AdvanceBlog

Bill Watterson’s Calvin & Hobbes comic strip is a classic.  In this particular strip, Calvin’s intellect, humor and sarcasm takes aim at lower level thinking skills and inadequate assessment.  It is quite apparent that Calvin’s ability and understanding substantially surpasses the information required to pass the exam.  When we consider that Calvin is a character in a comic strip, but that there are thousands of under-challenged students within our school systems – well, when we consider that, it is no longer funny.

As a principal, I would present a hypothetical scenario / question for my teachers.  I would ask:

If a students memorizes all of their multiplication facts and another student does not.  Yet, the student who does not rattle them off at top speed, but instead ponders them and sometimes creates illustrations that led to the correct answer.  Which student has learned the facts? And which student has mastered the concept?  Which is more important?

For a student to know that the United States became a country on July 4, 1776, is not quite the same as them understanding the conflicting forces that prompted the American Revolution.  Moreover, as a teacher does your assessment tap into higher order thinking skills or can just rudimentary facts suffice as “knowledge”?

Perhaps a better question for Calvin would have been for him to describe at least three events that lead to the landing at Plymouth Rock.  Or perhaps: why are they Pilgrims? If dates are important, have Calvin create a 100-year timeline, include 10 significant historical events and explain how they are connected.

Students who know “how” to think will be much more successful than students only learning “what” to think.

What do you think about teaching kids how to think?

School of the Week

If you are an early – childhood aficionado, then you would absolutely love Perry Child Development Center.  Perry CDC is a school that serves kindergarten and pre-school.  The staff is well versed in the nuances and learning styles of young learners.  They have all-day kindergarten as well as Montessori classes.  Recently, I had the pleasure to witness the spring concert, where a chorale of smiles (missing front teeth of course) eagerly sang their favorite Disney tunes.  There wasn’t an empty seat in the place!  As an educator, it is always heartwarming to experience a building designed with little people in mind, low window sills, lowered water fountains, bright inviting colors and moreover – a dedicated staff.