Send me email- robert15115@gmail.comCan anyone argue with the idea that students should feel that their school work is meaningful/purposeful/important? Everyone recognizes that they should see it that way. Nevertheless, it is commonplace in classrooms for students to work on assignments day after day just because the teacher says to. These students do not see the long-range purposes, such as these, provided as examples:
In first grade, learning sums to 12, recognizing a basic list of words, knowing the parts of our bodies, etc.
In fifth grade, learning meaningful long division with decimals, understanding the meaning of a paragraph, understanding the contributions of ancient Egypt to our culture, etc.
When students do not see their school work as meaningful/purposeful/important, they rely on the teacher to urge them to work. When they do see their school work as meaningful/purposeful/important, they are self-reliant - they learn for themselves.
What can a teacher do to make school work purposeful to students? Talk up the goals and objectives of a course or unit of study or school subject at the beginning of the year and periodically as appropriate - before work is begun.
Let students know, through pre-testing and other means, what they DON'T know so that, as they progress, they have a sense of learning and of having learned.
Keep folders of work completed so that they can see their progress.
Click on the links below to see other principles of teaching: