Attention Span of a Goldfish

Chapter 4 discussed a really unique topic of student motivation. Page 30 described high school as "doing time" (30) a process by which students 'learn' based on the teacher's standards of lecture and test taking. Essentially the students said that they only learn the material to pass the test that covers it, and trash the information as soon as they regurgitate it on the test key. It's sad to come to the realization that I do the exact same thing-it was difficult for me to accept that I do that and that I need to make a serious change in my so called effective study habits. Not only do those need to change but I need to work AHEAD on my teaching and application skills. I need to make sure that my students are learning the material not only because I'm required to teach it but because the information is genuinely valuable. What I say isn't for my own physical health, because if it was I would look like Kerry Walsh. I want my students to be engaged with the material I give them on a daily basis. I want to snatch their attention from the instant they scamper in the door to the instant they march out of it again. Beers went into detail in how to best effectively use some strategies to better gain the attention of students. She talked about using share aloud sessions with her students, a tool she starts herself and then engages the students and then in turn allow the students to engage one another and leave the students to converse among themselves that new idea. I think that this strategy is brilliant in not only engaging the students but allowing for student camaraderie.  I hope that I can incorporate these hands on strategies within my future classroom to give my students the best possible education I can offer.