Thanks to its partnership with publisher Eye on Education, EducationWorld is pleased to present this teaching tip from Making Good Teaching Great: Everyday Strategies for Teaching with Impact by Annette Breaux and Todd Whitaker. The tip answers the question, "Why do we have to know this?" before students even ask. Try sharing this advice with teachers at your next staff meeting or professional development day.
Think About It
"Why do we have to know this?" Students ask this question on a regular basis. Whenever the question is asked, it should be a red flag to the teacher that he or she has not made the connection between the skill being taught and the student's actual life experiences and reality.
If you were a student, to which lesson would you relate?
Here's another example. To which do you think students would more favorably respond?
We won't insult you by giving you the answers. The bottom line is that students want to learn when they see that what they are learning is relevant.
Do It
Look at the concepts you are teaching today and ask yourself, "How am I ensuring that the students know how this concept relates to their lives?" Oh, and by the way, you want to relate the concept to their lives today, as opposed to their futures. To tell a student, "You need to know this because it will help you get a job one day" is basically pointless. So relate what you teach to their current real lives.
Done!
Making it real has tremendous appeal. If your students understand why they learn what they learn, motivation will increase, along with achievement.
Education World®
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