Kids or Content: What Are You Teaching?

Kids or Content, what are you teaching? 

It's not their fault your lesson stunk! I'm pretty sure third graders aren't trying to sabotage a lesson but there are some times that it sure feels like it. Maybe your lesson didn't stink at all, but you overestimated your students' interest or ability. It's also probably not your fault if they hate school or a particular subject area, but there is a chance to make a difference and redirect a student's path. 

To that same point, if a student does harbor a dislike for school, it's our job to change their mind. We can't fix whatever has gotten in the way of learning in the past, but maybe we can reshape the process and inspire a love for learning. Think of the messages we send. Compliance may only serve to reinforce everything a student hates or resents about school in the first place.  Finding passions, connections, or sparks that we can develop is our challenge, but also our responsibility. Again, the focus shifts toward personalization, and when we personalize, the experience for the student also shifts- from receiving instruction to driving it. Are we teaching them to be students or to be learners?

I've come to decide that it's the rare child who is dying to find out the next curriculum initiative, content skill or objective is on the horizon, but every student thrives when personally engaged- with or without tech integration. Just take a look a the rise of the Maker movement. Content and curriculum is why we teachers are hired, but kids are why you and I were hired over the others in stack of applicants. This is where we practice our art and share dramatic and lasting lessons beyond domain knowledge and skills.