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thinking, writing, learning

Please listen

March 29, 2010 ·

I have great kids in my classes. I really do. They are curious, hard-working, and bright.

But today I wanted to scream. I spent quite a bit of time creating a research guide for them, a way to start finding information about social justice issues. I even created a custom google search with all my favorite resources.

So what do I find as I walk around the room? A student on Ask.com.

I corrected and sent her off in a new direction.

Two minutes later, she’s on Dogpile, saying what funny things she is finding.

SCREAM inside my head.

“Why do you think I spent time working on these resources, for you?” I ask as patiently as I can. “So you could ignore them and just browse through various links?”

I know. Kids need to learn to sift through resources on the web, figuring out which are valid and which are a waste of time. That’s certainly a valuable skill. But sometimes I want them to go directly to the best place and read.

Read and think.

Ok, I’m better now. I can do this again. Tomorrow.

:)

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Comments

  1. meaghan grace says

    March 30, 2010 at 7:03 pm

    kids on spring fever?

    I’m trying to think when i was in middle school, and i know i didn’t always appericate the hardwork at that moment… but it doesn’t mean i didn’t learn to later.. so i think even if they are missing the importance now.. it doesn’t mean it won’t hit them back in the head later.. so lesson and work not totally lost..

  2. Heather Durnin says

    April 10, 2010 at 11:44 am

    I had the very same experience two weeks ago as we worked on a geog. project. A teachable moment was created when the student’s question on ask.com was answered by “Mr. Monkey-man”. Hmm…reliable source? They got it.

  3. Kevin Hodgson says

    April 29, 2010 at 11:44 am

    Been there, done that, too. Hopefully, it’s just a bad day and things got better.
    Kevin

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