Tools for Igniting Curiosity

Cover of Tools for Igniting Curiosity book

Tools for Igniting Curiosity

Classroom-Ready Techniques for Increasing Engagement and Inspiring the Love of Learning

By: Bryan Goodwin, Harvey F. Silver, Susan Kreisman, Matthew J. Perini

Publication date: 2019
ISBN: 978-1-58284-218-9

How can we help our students develop that “yearning for learning” that spurs discovery and promotes deep understanding?

As educators, we all wish for our students to become more self-motivated and to show a greater passion for learning. But how can we turn this universal wish into classroom reality? By tapping into the most basic and powerful learning drive of all—curiosity. This book will help you unleash the power of curiosity in your classroom, combining the research-based insights of curiosity expert Bryan Goodwin from McREL with ready-to-use instructional tools developed by Harvey Silver and the Thoughtful Classroom team. Designed for teachers of all grade levels and content areas, Tools for Igniting Curiosity provides everything you’ll need to get your students fired up about learning.

 

Purchase Orders Accepted - Discounts available when buying 10 or more copiesEmail store@mcrel.org for more information or to send in your PO.

Title information

Cognitive science and teacher observations make it pretty clear: A strong sense of curiosity is the key for student engagement and developing a lifelong passion for learning. But how can teachers help students nurture their curiosity so that they ultimately take charge of their own learning? Tools for Igniting Curiosity answers that question with tools that capitalize on key levers proven to pique student curiosity—levers such as mysteries, controversy, missing information, personal experiences, and emotions.

The book's 21 tools—ready made classroom activities—are arranged in alignment with the cognitive path that students follow as they become initially interested in a topic, engage with new content and ideas, and then develop deeper, more sophisticated and applicable knowledge:

Sparking Students’ Curiosity --> Fanning the Flame --> Creating an Inner Fire

Tools for Igniting Curiosity is part of the award-winning Tools for Today’s Educators series and stems from the same partnership that produced the best-selling Tools for Classroom Instruction That Works, which revolutionized educators’ practice by building upon the what and why of research on best instructional strategies and diving into the how of classroom-ready teaching activities.

Pages: 108
Language: English
Publisher: Silver Strong & Associates and McREL International
Edition: First
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Bryan Goodwin

Bryan Goodwin is president and CEO of McREL International. For 21 years at McREL, he has translated research into practice, scanning the world for new insights and best practices on teaching and leading, and has helped educators everywhere adapt them to address their own challenges. A frequent conference presenter, he is the author of Out of Curiosity: Restoring the Power of Hungry Minds for Better Workplaces, Schools, and Lives and Simply Better: Doing What Matters Most to Change the Odds for Student Success, as well as co-author of Curiosity Works: A Guidebook for Moving Your School from Improvement to Innovation, Unstuck: How Curiosity, Peer Coaching, and Teaming Can Change Your School, Balanced Leadership for Powerful Learning: Tools for Achieving Success in Your School, and The 12 Touchstones of Good Teaching: A Checklist for Staying Focused Every Day. Before joining McREL in 1998, Bryan was a college instructor, a high school teacher, and a business journalist.

Education: M.A. Rhetoric and Communication Studies, University of Virginia; B.A. Professional Writing and Environmental Studies, Baylor University

Harvey F. Silver

Co-founder and president of Silver Strong & Associates, Dr. Silver has more than 40 years of experience as a teacher, administrator, and consultant. He is a regular speaker at national and regional education conferences, addressing a wide range of topics, including differentiated instruction, thoughtful assessment, school leadership, tools and strategies for meeting today’s standards, and lesson/unit design. Dr. Silver also conducts workshops for schools, districts, and educational organizations around the world. He is the co-author of several education bestsellers, including Tools for Thoughtful Assessment, Tools for a Successful School Year, and The Core Six. He has also collaborated with Matthew Perini to develop the Thoughtful Classroom Teacher Effectiveness Framework, a comprehensive teacher evaluation system that is being implemented in school districts across the country.

Education: Ed.D. and M.Ed. Columbia University; B.S. University of Rhode Island

Susan Kreisman

A senior associate at Silver Strong & Associates, Susan is an experienced educator, administrator, and coach. She was the co-founder and first principal of Manhattan Hunter Science High School in New York City, an early-college high school for diverse students that reports a 100 percent college admission rate. Previously, Susan served as an assistant high school principal and classroom English/reading teacher. She has also taught graduate-level courses in curriculum theory and development at the City University of New York. Susan works extensively with public and charter schools that commit to a “whole child” approach to education. As part of her work with school communities, Susan specializes in differentiated instruction, school leadership, educator effectiveness, and the development of professional learning communities.

Education: M.A.

Matthew J. Perini

As senior director of content development for Silver Strong & Associates, Matthew Perini has authored numerous books, curriculum guides, and articles on a wide range of topics, including reading instruction, formative assessment, and effective teaching practices. Most recently, he collaborated with Harvey Silver and Abigail Boutz on Tools for a Successful School Year, winner of both a Teachers’ Choice Award and an Independent Publisher Book Award (IPPY). Matthew has been a driving force in the development of Thoughtful Education Press, the publishing division of Silver Strong & Associates. He serves as both a contributing author and series editor for Thoughtful Education Press’s award-winning Tools for Today’s Educators line of books.

Education: M.A.