Today during an after school assessment meeting, we had a discussion on what we want our students to be prepared for when leaving our K-8 school. We talked about skills from Common Core to traits like “Habits of Mind.” It was inspiring but at the same time frustrating, as we are on the eve of a week of standardized tests that we all know in our heart of hearts doesn’t prepare students for the real-world. There is hope for Common Core, as it attempts to encourage creativity and critical thinking, and hopefully won’t be whittled down to checklists so it can be tested.
Thomas Friedman quotes Tony Wagner in the article linked below that “Every young person will continue to need basic knowledge, of course. But they will need skills and motivation even more. Of these three education goals, motivation is the most critical. Young people who are intrinsically motivated — curious, persistent, and willing to take risks — will learn new knowledge and skills continuously. They will be able to find new opportunities or create their own — a disposition that will be increasingly important as many traditional careers disappear.”
Articles mentioned:
Thomas Friedman’s article in the NY Times – Need a Job? Invent It.
And from the NCTM President
– Common Core State Standards for Mathematics: An Uncommon Opportunity