Why Don't Students Like School? : A Cognitive Scientist Answers Questions About How the Mind Works and What It Means for the Classroom

Easy-to-apply, scientifically-based approaches for engaging students in the classroom Cognitive scientist Dan Willingham focuses his acclaimed research on the biological and cognitive basis of learning. His book will help teachers improve their practice by explaining how they and their students think and learn. It reveals-the importance of story, emotion, memory, context, and routine in building knowledge and creating lasting learning experiences. Nine, easy-to-understand principles with clear applications for the classroom Includes surprising findings, such as that intelligence is malleable, and that you cannot develop thinking skills without facts How an understanding of the brain's workings can help teachers hone their teaching skills Mr. Willingham's answers apply just as well outside the classroom. Corporate trainers, marketers and, not least, parents -anyone who cares about how we learn-should find his book valuable reading. -Wall Street Journal Kids are naturally curious, but when it comes to school it seems like their minds are turned off. Why is it that they can remember the smallest details from their favorite television program, yet miss the most obvious questions on their history test? Cognitive scientist Dan Willingham has focused his acclaimed research on the biological and cognitive basis of learning and has a deep understanding of the daily challenges faced by classroom teachers. this book will help teachers improve their practice by explaining how they and their students think and learnrevealing the importance of story, emotion, memory, context, and routine in building knowledge and creating lasting learning experiences. In this breakthrough book, Willingham has distilled his knowledge of cognitive science into a set of nine principles that are easy to understand and have clear applications for the classroom. Some of examples of his surprising findings are: Learning styles don't exist The processes by which different children think and learn are more similar than different. Intelligence is malleable Intelligence contributes to school performance and children do differ, but intelligence can be increased through sustained hard work. You cannot develop thinking skills in the absence of facts We encourage students to think critically, not just memorize facts. However thinking skills depend on factual knowledge for their operation. Why Don't Students Like School is a basic primer for every teacher who wants to know how their brains and their students brains work and how that knowledge can help them hone their teaching skills. Easy-to-apply, scientifically-based approaches for engaging students in the classroom Cognitive scientist Dan Willingham focuses his acclaimed research on the biological and cognitive basis of learning. His book will help teachers improve their practice by explaining how they and their students think and learn. It reveals-the importance of story, emotion, memory, context, and routine in building knowledge and creating lasting learning experiences. Nine, easy-to-understand principles with clear applications for the classroom Includes surprising findings, such as that intelligence is malleable, and that you cannot develop'thinking skills'without facts How an understanding of the brain's workings can help teachers hone their teaching skills'Mr. Willingham's answers apply just as well outside the classroom. Corporate trainers, marketers and, not least, parents -anyone who cares about how we learn-should find his book valuable reading.'—Wall Street Journal Why don't students like school? How can I teach students the skills they need when standardized tests require only facts? Why do students remember everything that's on television and forget everything I say? Why is it so hard for students to understand abstract ideas? Is drilling worth it? What's the secret to getting students to think like scientists, mathematicians, and historians? How should I adjust my teaching for different types of learners? How can I help slow learners? What about my mind? Cognitive Scientist Dan Willingham Has Focused His Acclaimed Research On The Biological And Cognitive Basis Of Learning And Has A Deep Understanding Of The Daily Challenges Faced By Classroom Teachers. This Book Will Help Teachers Improve Their Practice By Explaining How They And Their Students Think And Learn Revealing The Importance Of Story, Emotion, Memory, Context, And Routine In Building Knowledge And Creating Lasting Learning Experiences. --from Publisher Description. This title is written by an esteemed cognitive psychologist who has conducted basic research on brain function, but who also understands the daily challenges faced by classroom teachers