Chapter 1 response

In the reading, I found that it is most important to me as an educator that learning is more than simple fact memorization. Collaboration, creative problem solving, and simply making learning fun are absolutely

 necessary to a meaningful learning experience. I think the author made an excellent point in mentioning that teaching children to memorize facts and pass a standardized test really does very little for a child's education. Teachers who are forced to teach by the standard set by federal regulation often have little room for creativity in their lesson plans. I believe that students learn best when permitted to think creatively, work together, bounce ideas off of each other, and help each other find solutions to problems. This way, students can learn to appreciate different points of view while developing their own ideas. 

As the daughter of two educators, I have learned firsthand what works best in the c lassroom to make learning meaningful. My mom frequently has her 4-year-olds come together in reading groups and center time to help each other with little projects and learn certain concepts together. My dad, as a high school principal, has the opportunity to observe learning in dozens of classrooms, and he knows that the really great teachers allow students to collaborate and think creatively together. As a speech-language pathologist, I plan to let my children either work in small group settings, or I will come up with creative and fun ways to help children master sounds.