Penguins and the Broaden-and-Build Theory

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EVERY EDUCATOR NEEDS TO READ THIS (at least the abstract).

Like yourself, I jumped from my seat after reading the paper.  To be honest, I erupted out of the chair and to calm myself down did several laps around my classroom.

I was absolutely enraged- positively furious.

Where has this been all my life? Where was this in graduate school?  I'm trying to convince you to read it if you haven't yet- it is that important.

How to Teach Like a TED Talk

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 TED talks are social contagions.  Compelling, awe-inspiring, and unbelievable, TED presenters are super-heroes.  They are rock stars on the academic stage and captivate audiences.  The TED presenters have five characteristics that make them glow.  It would benefit teachers to adopt them.

Emotions, Facebook, and Students

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The most shared scientific paper of 2014 was a massive study using Facebook.  I do not have Facebook so reviewing the research was both alarming and educational.  (I’m often asked how I find the time to read so much- I don’t spend time on Facebook)

The study looked at emotional contagions.  An emotional contagion is a vector that transports an emotion from one individual to another.  When you are around a person that is happy, you become happy.

The connection between online networks and emotional contagions has recently received attention.  This study is a step in that direction.

The newsfeed on your Facebook page shows SELECTED updates from your buddies.  Facebook uses an algorithm to decide what to show on your newsfeed.  In other words, you do not see everything that gets posted on your friends pages.  The algorithm is designed to show you the most relevant updates from your buddies.

How to Address 3 Common Senior Comments

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January 1^st indicates a chance to start fresh and many of us attempt to tackle unrealistic and absolutely unobtainable goals.  For me, it represents the end of letter of recommendation season.

I’m honored to write a letter.  What better way to exercise your purpose as a teacher than helping someone continue their education.  I also enjoy writing letters because it is challenging; I’m forced to be creative.

Along with letters of recommendation, those of us that teach seniors see the first third of the year as “I’m freaking out because everybody says I need a plan for college and life—I don’t know what to do!”

Seniors are justified in their feelings.  The pressure to succeed is often overwhelming.

 I’ve developed a reputation in my school as the guy who can calm a senior down.  Many of the conversations are with students who were advised to chat with me by their friends.  “Mr. R, Jennifer S is my friend.  She said you can help me with next year.”

I’d like to share how I deal with three frequent comments in this type of conversation.

Relevant Reading List #2

Learning is Remembering

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A unique occupation like teaching requires unconventional preparation.  The Relevant Reading Lists are a series of books that when read together convey a similar message imperative to teaching.  The books listed are not included in typical teacher preparation programs. The Pragmatic TV Teacher feels they should be.  Reading these will make you a better educator.

Searching For Memory Daniel Schacter

In Search of Memory Eric Kandel

The Seven Sins of Memory Daniel Schacter

Did you know that for your students to learn something new their brain must physically change?  Neither did I, until I read these books.   Read these books for a better understanding of how the brain behaves, learns, and remembers because in the end, learning is remembering.

To become a better teacher, become a better writer

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Read The Sense of Style by Steven Pinker to become a better educator.  To be honest, read anything by Steven Pinker to become a better teacher. 

Almost immediately upon reading The Sense of Style I found myself substituting “writer for teacher”.  For example:

“Good writing starts strong” but as I subvocalized my mind read “Good teaching starts strong”

Or another:

“Good writing is understood with the mind’s eye” but I read “Good teaching is understood with the mind’s eye”.

It became obvious that the book on writing that I was reading was going to help me more with teaching than syntax, vocabulary, and grammar.

I learned a new perspective on teaching.  It is summarized with a passage:

“A writer (teacher) of classic prose must simulate two experiences: showing the reader  (learner) something in the world, and engaging her in conversation.  The nature of each experience shapes the way that classic prose is written (taught).  The metaphor of showing implies that there is something to see.  The things in the world the writer is pointing to, then, are concrete: people (or other animate beings) who move around in the world and interact with objects.  The metaphor of conversation implies that the reader is cooperative.”

 

“… implies that there is something to see”… I love that line.  Pinker says that a writer must approach writing from a conversational standpoint.  The goal of the conversation is to SHOW the reader something in the world that THEY ARE FULLY CAPABLE OF SEEING, they just haven’t yet.

He changes the frame of writing from 'I have something to tell you' to 'check this out'.  The first frame has a condescending tone to it.   'I have something to tell you' implies privilege or superiority.  'Check this out' acknowledges that the information about to be shared is fully knowable to anyone, they just haven’t seen it yet. 

On Ants and Education: Part 2

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On Ants and Education first discussed the industrialized aspect of education.  Knowledge workers are no longer needed in the future.  Thomas Friedman successfully argues that the internet revolution leveled the playing field.  Upon contemplation it rings true and is frightening.  What are we to do?

E. O. Wilson is the most influential biologist currently alive.  By trade he is a biologist whose primary focus is ants.  Luckily for humanity, this incredible thinker didn’t stop there.  He has addressed the controversial biology of social behavior and biology of human nature.   He is a conservation biologist, philosopher, and general lover of the earth. The Theory of Island Biogeography was first inscribed by his pen.  He also theorizes in the social, cooperative aspect of organisms and the unification of knowledge.  In short and as my grandmother would say: “he is one smart cookie.”

Daniel Pink is a prolific thinker in his own right.  His considered a productivity expert and career advice specialist.  He thinks about how to “change the world of work” and the qualities that successful thinkers will embody in the future. 

“Grandma, what do you think of this guy?  His name is Daniel” 

“Oh well, isn’t he a cutie-pie!”

(Yes, I have read everything linked.  Please do the same)

What do the smart cookie and cutie-pie have in common?

They share the same vision of the future.  Wilson and Pink have a clear idea of what will make someone successful.  I believe them because they both swallow their own pill and they practice what they preach.  Together they are the cure to industrialized education.  Let’s take a look.