Daniel Willingham is an expert. He argues that there is no such thing as learning styles.
Willingham does a nice job of debunking these education buzzwords and getting to what should be the meat of educational practice. He is also the author of Why Don't Students Like School?.
Bill Evers, who has an impressive background in education, wrote a great review of the book.
As you read the book (you can get a preview on Amazon.com), you may find yourself nodding your head in agreement. It is as if he is stating the obvious, but it is stuff that we have been misinterpreting because we are so programmed to think that learning styles and differentiation are the key. It isn't about learning styles. Instead, it is about conveying the information in a way that will make our students feel successful. ALL students will have to work hard and think hard in order to improve and develop their minds, but sometimes they need a task that teaches content and is fun enough to keep them motivated along the way. Usually, that means mixing traditional teaching strategies with innovative ones. Like, have students draw symbols of the ideas you discuss, instead of taking notes the traditional way. Or introduce a new topic by showing a series of images and ask the students to make connections between those images, instead of simply standing at the front of the room and telling them about the new topic.
This is why each student doesn't need a differentiated lesson specifically tailored to him. All students need good teaching. Good teaching utilizes several ways to present and explain ideas to all students, rather than finding the one way each student needs the idea explained to him.
Good teaching is good teaching.
Kerry,
ReplyDeleteHave to agree with you. You may be interested in my recent blog post, "Distracted by Differentiation." http://teachingeverystudent.blogspot.com
What you are talking about is Universal Design for Learning which in many ways is just common sense good teaching.
Amen, Sister. If only I could have all of that time back that I've spent in countless workshops that teach me things that I'm already doing...
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome, Kerry. Thanks for posting. I am sending the link to your blog to my son's 5th grade teacher. Kevin loves his teacher so much and I think he will enjoy your blog :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kerry....I will be sharing this one as well. Good teaching is good teaching and we need to stop second guessing ourselves.
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