I agree with Wagner's Seven Skills for Success.
1. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Students need to be able to look at a problem objectively. They need to ask deep questions about the topic, exploring all avenues. Finally, students need to be able to problem solve. They need to look at a question or an issue and be able to solve it themselves through various means.
2. Collaboration: Today's society deals a lot with collaboration. Students need to be able to work with others, sharing ideas between each other to help each other succeed. Students need to be able to work with various types of people and learn from one another to push themselves towards success.
3. Adaptability: Students need to be able to adapt to change. They need to be able to walk in to a problem or an issue that they have not ever dealt with, and use their previously learned skills to figure out a solution. Real life is full of unexpected issues, and students need to be able to work their way through these.
4. Initiative and Entrepreneurship: Students need to be able to see a problem and act on it with out being told. Employers are looking for students that take initiative, and are looking to push themselves to the next level. They do not want students that will do what they are told, they want innovators that can bring their company to the next level.
5. Effective Oral and Written Communication: As an English teacher, this is one of my favorites. Speaking and writing help to build the skills that students need to critically think about an issue, research it, and put together intelligent thoughts to persuade their peers.
6. Accessing and Analyzing Information: Students are surrounded by the internet every day. However, they may not know what research and sites are actually credible. Students need to learn how to identify credible sources and how to use their research to best support their claims.
7. Curiosity and Imagination: Finally, students need to be interested in what they are learning. America has one of the highest levels of innovators because imagination and curiosity are pushed by teachers. Students need to be excited about learning and want to learn more.
One thing that I feel that Wagner is missing is respect. The students need to learn to have respect for themselves, and others. They need to respect their teachers and their peers. One thing that helps the students to succeed in life is the confidence in themselves and treatment of others. If the students are not respecting their teachers, then how will they respect their employers? How can students work with one another if they do not respect one another?
In my classroom, this will look like project based learning in groups. Students will collaborate to research a topic using credible sources. Each student will work in a group to help instill respect and collaboration techniques that they will use for life. They will then create a poster, using their imaginations. This project would be presented to the class to help aid the students' oral communication skills.
I will commit to creating a collaborative presentation in my classroom this year. I will measure success by the quality of the end product and the collaboration I see the students using throughout the project.
1. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Students need to be able to look at a problem objectively. They need to ask deep questions about the topic, exploring all avenues. Finally, students need to be able to problem solve. They need to look at a question or an issue and be able to solve it themselves through various means.
2. Collaboration: Today's society deals a lot with collaboration. Students need to be able to work with others, sharing ideas between each other to help each other succeed. Students need to be able to work with various types of people and learn from one another to push themselves towards success.
3. Adaptability: Students need to be able to adapt to change. They need to be able to walk in to a problem or an issue that they have not ever dealt with, and use their previously learned skills to figure out a solution. Real life is full of unexpected issues, and students need to be able to work their way through these.
4. Initiative and Entrepreneurship: Students need to be able to see a problem and act on it with out being told. Employers are looking for students that take initiative, and are looking to push themselves to the next level. They do not want students that will do what they are told, they want innovators that can bring their company to the next level.
5. Effective Oral and Written Communication: As an English teacher, this is one of my favorites. Speaking and writing help to build the skills that students need to critically think about an issue, research it, and put together intelligent thoughts to persuade their peers.
6. Accessing and Analyzing Information: Students are surrounded by the internet every day. However, they may not know what research and sites are actually credible. Students need to learn how to identify credible sources and how to use their research to best support their claims.
7. Curiosity and Imagination: Finally, students need to be interested in what they are learning. America has one of the highest levels of innovators because imagination and curiosity are pushed by teachers. Students need to be excited about learning and want to learn more.
One thing that I feel that Wagner is missing is respect. The students need to learn to have respect for themselves, and others. They need to respect their teachers and their peers. One thing that helps the students to succeed in life is the confidence in themselves and treatment of others. If the students are not respecting their teachers, then how will they respect their employers? How can students work with one another if they do not respect one another?
In my classroom, this will look like project based learning in groups. Students will collaborate to research a topic using credible sources. Each student will work in a group to help instill respect and collaboration techniques that they will use for life. They will then create a poster, using their imaginations. This project would be presented to the class to help aid the students' oral communication skills.
I will commit to creating a collaborative presentation in my classroom this year. I will measure success by the quality of the end product and the collaboration I see the students using throughout the project.