Why?

Three simple letters

One short little word

“For what purpose?”

“Help me understand!”

“For what reason?”

Why . . .

Never confused with my cousins

The other 4 W’s and the H

Who?  What?  Where?  When? and How?

One little word that asks you to DIG deeper!

Simple

Elegant

Requires thinking

Requires time to reflect

Requires student work!

An amazing question:  Why?

In order to have life-long learners, we must ensure that curiosity is front and center for our students.  Students should be asking questions (and seeking answers) every day. (Ask and answer questions – CCR.RLK.1. Standard) Multiple questions. Every day.  Wonderopolis may be a source of more student choice and voice in the topics explored.  However, even during reading and writing workshop students need to be asking questions.  Questions are a source of learning if one is confused, one is clarifying, one is making connections to real life.  In student-centered classrooms, student questions should be as necessary as breathing if students are doing the work!

Why this instruction?

The instruction should support high levels of student learning.  The use of scaffolds can ease the transition to more difficult strategies or materials, but the ultimate goal is that students will be able to independently DO the WORK!  That means they need just in time instruction, that meets their needs, that increases in complexity and has student work and practice at the heart.  No boring monologues, no arts and craft instruction, no mindless worksheets.  Real questions generated by the students that they can and do answer.

Why this assessment?

Assessment that measures learning, moves students forward, and informs instruction has to be a part of the instructional cycle that has students at the heart or center.  Educators must move beyond the “I have to use these assessments” to the ones that are pedagogically sound, that matter to students and provide clear evidence of student learning.  That takes teacher advocacy and teacher depth of knowledge of instruction, assessment and curricula.  There are no easy shortcuts in education and creating specific, engaging, real-world tasks are not easy but are so necessary for student learning.

The  #1 Why:    The Ultimate Goal

Thinking

Student thinking

Every day

Not mere regurgitation

But taking ideas,

Creating

Innovating

With  the goals of

Student Thinking!

Taking Action!

Shaping the World!

And their own Futures!

How do you use “WHY”?  

Why do you do what you do?

Additional posts at Reflections on the Teche