Tools for Igniting Curiosity
Tools for Igniting Curiosity
By: Bryan Goodwin, Susan Kreisman
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.
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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.
Bryan Goodwin
Bryan Goodwin is president and CEO of McREL International. During his more than two decades 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 across the United States and around the world adapt them to address their own local contexts, goals, and needs. A frequent conference presenter, he is the author of numerous books, papers, and articles on research-based practices for effective instruction and school/system leadership, and the power of curiosity for students and adults. Before joining McREL in 1998, Bryan was a college instructor, a high school teacher, and a business journalist. He and his family live in Denver, Colorado. Visit mcrel.org to learn more.
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.
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