In today’s society, curriculum is scripted for educators about what to teach and how to teach it. What answers the students should tell you should be marked correct. The constraints of conventional teaching and thinking are shadowing how to embrace the exploration of new possibilities.
Not all learners interpret material similarly, and we are creating robotic thinkers. It’s a one-size-fits-all learning model when no two people are the same. For example, even if we have different opinions about a text, we are not wrong as we push the boundaries of new ideas and concepts. We pushed ourselves beyond and to think about why the author wrote or illustrated the text a certain way.
We completed a picture walk before I even started reading a text to my class. We look at the pictures and ask ourselves questions like “What do you notice?” and “What do you wonder?” I will then model the sayings “I notice…” and “I wonder…”. These questions and phrases allow students to take a moment to think about the text and develop confidence that even if I interpreted the text wrong, I still attempted. This way of thinking provides a nourishing environment for students to create a sense of curiosity.
For example, I took this photo at the local zoo, and the students discussed what they noticed and wondered about. Sometimes, students would tell each other, “I agree with Christine, but I would like to add that I noticed…” or “I disagree with Christine as I noticed or wondered…”
These are two think-aloud models I provided the students with on our first day. We discussed both models:
“I noticed the lion is resting on the rock. I wonder why the lion is sitting on the rock.”
“I noticed the lion is enjoying the sun. I wonder if the lion gets too hot from the sun’s heat.”
Both statements show a different interpretation, yet neither is genuinely wrong. This activity allowed the students to think beyond and challenge themselves in their own learning, even if the passage later on tells us why the lion was on the rock. It’s okay if our answer is not the same as the author’s, as we open the door to unlocking our full potential in learning.
A famous Albert Einstein quote is,” When we dare to think beyond our thoughts, we unleash our true creative potential and open ourselves to infinite possibilities.”
Don’t be afraid to adapt your lesson script to encourage your students to think creatively and show you their full potential
I understand why districts often choose to adopt a scripted curriculum. Scripted curriculum has pros that some districts have found helpful. In contrast, scripted lessons ensure that every teacher and classroom across the district teaches the same material the same way, ensuring no child gets left behind. Often, adapting a lesson requires training and years of experience, and not every school is fortunate enough to have the same quality of educators in their building. Adopting a scripted curriculum ensures that all teachers stay focused and use consistent language to provide fidelity in each lesson.
The pros and cons of a scripted lesson must be weighed by the individual teacher, as no two classrooms are the same.
© ExploreEngageLearn LLC February 3,2024