Why do I need to learn this?

From Flickr Creative Commons: mrsdkrebs

Why do I need to learn this? This question will most likely be asked to every teacher, and as a teacher you have your typical responses; to be able to read; to be able to write; to be able to go to college; to be able to get a job. Have you ever heard a teacher answer with, "to be an innovator; to be the change in our world; or to be able to create something new"? In the blog post on 2 cents worth titled The FANTASTIC, David talks about this issue in schools. "It’s another theme that runs through much of my writing and speaking, that, 'We are, for the first time in history, preparing our children for a future that we cannot clearly describe.' The conclusion that I usually draw is that, 'The best thing we can be teaching our children, is how to teach themselves.'" I feel is it so important to remember this quote when teaching; we are teaching these students for THEIR future, not our past. "It’s why so many of my generation have so much difficulty with all this change. We don’t have WONDER. ..and without WONDER, we fall back on fear and betrayal." It is so important to teach students wonder! Below is a video from the Future Educators Association, titled A Classroom is Waiting... 



Educating the next generation is our job, which seems like such a HUGE task to me! It is kind of scary to think about all the power we have in affecting children's lives and future. I think it is important to obviously teach children the content from curriculum, but it is also equally important to teach students to respect one another, to be tolerant of others, to accept all people for who they are, to communicate effectively, and to collaborate with others. Teaching in the 21st century is very demanding, and a lot is expected from teachers, students, and all involved in education. Showing students real life connections in the classroom from day one can help eliminate the question, "why do I need to learn this?". David suggests flipping the classroom is key to teach students wonder. "But I’m not talking about just flipping when you teach and when you re-enforce. Its more fundamental than that. Ive often questioned the sense of making students learn the math and then giving them the word problems. We should, in almost all disciplines, start with the word problems, and then help our learners develop the skills and habits required to fulfill their wonder. Help them invent the math that solves the problem, invent the grammar that conveys the emotion, explore the geography and history that explains why, discover the science that fulfills the WONDER." This website gives some more background information on flipping a classroom. If you could flip your classroom, would you, and why or why not? I'll leave you with a thought provoking video. Are you ready to prepare students for their ever-changing future?