TPE A

This article helped me question how I will/can be more thoughtful when I teach.  I believe we need to push our students to think for themselves, think outside of themselves and build their confidence to apply themselves.  This article showed that there are ways teachers can communicate to students that will guide them to "think outside the box" and "think big."

It is said that "skillful thinking must be cultivated...skillful thinking is hard work."  A student learning to think is like an athlete trying to perfect his/her jumpshot.  It requires practice and coaching.  I wonder how challenging it might be to implement some of the practices with high school aged students who come with "previous training" that led to bad habits or little confidence in school.  How do you engage students who come in feeling disconnected or apathetic towards school?  Will these themes work then?  Should there be a sixth theme in which a thought-filled curriculum involves creating curriculum that is relevant to students' lives?