The Bailey Times
January 22, 2018
Data from the last thirty years lead to a conclusion that is not scientifically challengeable: thinking well requires knowing facts, and that’s true not simply because you need something to think about. The very processes that teachers care about most — critical thinking processes such as reasoning and problem solving — are intimately intertwined with factual knowledge that is in long-term memory (not just found in the environment).
I have never heard of "retrieval practice" until I read this article that is below. We have talked about this process before when discussing questioning strategies but this article is just a great reminder of some things to do to help our students be able to think deeply. In essence, it is saying that our kids can only think as deep and as critically about what they actually know well! We tend to shy away from the lower types of questioning but that is where retrieval happens! Take a moment and read this article and think about your practice! There are some great points in this article and a video if you choose to learn more.
We’ve been reading up a lot on retrieval practice lately. Hopefully, we’re not alone in that. From a cognitive science standpoint, it’s absolutely central to improving learning.
You might recall Daniel Willingham’s assertion about the importance of knowledge:
Data from the last thirty years lead to a conclusion that is not scientifically challengeable: thinking well requires knowing facts, and that’s true not simply because you need something to think about. The very processes that teachers care about most — critical thinking processes such as reasoning and problem solving — are intimately intertwined with factual knowledge that is in long-term memory (not just found in the environment).
There are two parts of Willingham’s assertion:
1) You can only think deeply and critically about what you know well—what you have a lot of knowledge about—and
2) To aid thinking, that knowledge must be encoded in long-term memory. Retrieval practice is the tool that encodes knowledge in long-term memory.
Having to recall something -especially having to struggle to recall it after a bit of forgetting has begun–strengthens the neural pathway in which it is encoded making it stronger and easier to recall.
Of the two ideas—1) knowledge is important so 2) you have to encode it in students’ long-term memory–the latter is probably more dissonant and difficult for many teachers because the encoding process requires what they think of as lower order questions—retrieval practice. Even if you know students need knowledge and you know that simple questions now support rigorous questions later it can be hard to make yourself do. It’s one of the most important things we can do to ensure learning and yet we call it or think of it in the back of our minds as ‘regurgitation.’
UPDATE on Eureka Math - Please Read!
2nd semester Evaluations
Voluntary Transfer Form
- Voluntary Transfer Form – Any Collierville Schools certificated employee interested in transferring to the new Schilling Farms Elementary School this fall is invited to complete this voluntary transfer form no later than Monday, 2/5/18. By doing so, an employee may bypass the traditional transfer protocols and be given priority consideration in grade assignment. If you have any questions regarding the transfer process, please e-mail Director of Human Resources Cecelia Booker (cbooker@colliervilleschools.org).
Internal Job Postings
- Internal Job Postings – Collierville Schools is currently accepting internal applications only for the following vacancies at Schilling Farms Elementary School for the 2018-19 school year: Interventionist, STEM Teacher, Instructional Technology Facilitator. To view the job descriptions and submit an application, you must create an internal account in SearchSoft by following the attached instructions. The application deadline is Friday, 1/26/18.
Upcoming January Coffee Chats!
Wednesday, January 24, Using OneNote to Help Students With Dyslexia
Wednesday, February 7, Tracking Student Growth with Numbers
Check out some of these articles I read this past week. You may find something that interest you.
Month at a Glance
January 22nd: January 26th: Student Council Winter Sock Patrol - Bring in Socks!
January 23rd: STEM Night at CMS from 6:00 - 8:00
January 24th: Principal's Meeting (out of the building)
January 26th: P.J. Day $2.00
January 29th: Career Fair 5:00 -7:00 at CMS Gym
PTA Board Meeting 9:30 in cafeteria
January 31st: Read to Be Ready Summit - out for the day
Club Pictures
February 1st: Faculty Meeting and then Faculty Picture at 8:15
Classroom Pictures
February 7th: Principal's Meeting - out for the day
February 8th: PTA Daddy/Daughter Dance @ BSE Mother/Son @ Get Air
February 15th: Parent Teacher Conferences 4:00 - 7:00
February 16th: DLD Day
February 19th: Holiday - President's Day