—Anne-Laure Le Cunff
The Importance of Curiosity
I often experiment with the questions I include on a response and reflection post-workshop form. I want to give participants an opportunity to reflect on their experience, and I want to gather important information to help me evaluate the success of the workshop as well as plan future professional learning opportunities.
Recently I asked, “What is one thing you would love to know more about in order to do your job better?”
For me this would be a tough question to answer because there are so many things I want to know more about in order to do my job better. How could I pick just one? I might give any of these answers:
- Ways to nurture virtual professional relationships
- How AI can help (and not hinder) learning
- Why regulating your breathing regulates your emotions
- How to time-block more effectively
So, you can imagine my surprise when I scanned the form to find several responses indicating that workshop participants don’t want (or need) to learn anything to do their jobs better. “I’m good” was the general vibe.
Many of us know that as humans become older they become less curious. We ask fewer questions. We stop wondering about the ways things work. Recently, I learned that some evidence suggests the more we know about a subject, the less we stop being and acting curious about it.
Many adults seem to be okay with growing less curious, but Anne-Laure Le Cunff knows the science behind curiosity and insists there are magical properties we need to tap. Curiosity, she says, keeps you young; helps you learn; and fosters better relationships.
This issue is all about building curiosity in subject areas. It’s packed full of ideas to tap students’ curiosity through vocabulary, writing, and reading—plus more, as always.
Shine on,
Ruth Ayres
Editor in Chief
Melanie Meehan considers content and context for students who struggle to master new skills because of a lack of background knowledge.
In this installment of the morning message series, Ruth Metcalfe unlocks a wide range of opportunities to support learning in any content area.
Verneda Johnson, a middle school science teacher, shares the ways she uses interactive read aloud and trade books to help students become curious about science concepts.
If you’re an instructional coach, we’d love for you to join our FREE coaching network called Coach-to-Coach. This simple and mighty group is led by Ruth Ayres and hosted by our sister site, The Lead Learners. The next meeting is Thursday, March 20, at noon EDT. Click here to register.
New members-only content is added each week to the Choice Literacy website. If you’re not yet a member, click here to explore membership options.
Tara Barnett and Kate Mills share three quick ways to increase vocabulary exposure in middle school. They also offer a summary of the importance of vocabulary development that inspires the urgency of vocabulary instruction.
Gigi McAllister shares an annual school-wide research project she leads in the library. You’ll be inspired by the way a focus on research can bring joy and belonging to all students in all grades.
NEW VIDEO | Tammy Mulligan wants the kids to own the learning in the classroom. Here is one way she helps reinforce the message that everyone has something to offer the learning community.
Want more inspiration and ideas about content literacy? Check out our collection written by teachers for teachers.
New members-only content is added each week to the Choice Literacy website. If you’re not yet a member, click here to explore membership options.
Matt Renwick helps literacy coaches and leaders recognize and navigate their assumptions and biases when working with teachers. He provides a helpful checklist as a practical place to begin.
Instructional coach Paula Fiscus finds ways to establish positive momentum in a season of combining two schools into one.
PD2Go | Stella Villalba scaffolds the language development of her first- and second-grade multilingual learners during read aloud by highlighting vocabulary and providing a tool to assist with a partner retelling activity.
Quote It:
Anxiety always lives in our assumptions.
—Steve Cuss
That’s all for this week!
