CHRIST, JOYCE

Shaq has a clothing line. Dont know if its a JCP exclusive, but they fit well. Also, I found Arizona jeans are good for me.

You're telling me all these actors hewing word for word to the scripts are giving nothing of themselves to the roles? That they are not creative? #EduSky

Or in theater. You have to memorize the script before you can do anything real with it.

This idea that "memorizing" isn't real learning is wrong. You have to memorize things to be able to synthesize them. Watch athletes learn from their coaches. There's no guesswork. The coaches tell them exactly what needs to be done.

But they have to have tools first.

I love discovery and curiousity. We have to provide students with the tools to actually make these things possible. It's very rewarding to see a child discover Percy Jackson and explore Greek Myths on their own. Or to discover the language of film and start creating movies.

Also, something that helps kids have confidence is knowing things. They feel better about themselves. You have to have a base of knowledge.

The same with math. Mathematical patterns and principles can be noticed. But students need to learn the language.

Language is natural. Words and letters are not. They are an artificial means to convey meaning. To assume children will just magically understand all the rules of language through guesswork is bizarre.

Children aren't discovering reading as a group. It can happen somewhat. I picked up reading quickly. But my mother read to me daily and showed me the words, and practice letter sounds. Not every parent has the time and not every child has the same working memory to do it quickly.

This is to say - Direct Instruction continues to be (and both cognitive science and research show) the most effective way of helping children learn things they need to be taught.

They might notice the patterns through work, but it was through designed materials like number beads, sandpaper letters, binomial cubes.

Montessori Classrooms center peace and Follow the Child, but they also recognize the child needs to follow rules and cannot puzzle their way through certain topics. They have to be explicitly shown how numbers and letters work. #EduSky

But, once a child knew reading and writing, they were encouraged to explore the world so they could find their place in it. This involved essays, projects, art, music. It was all vital to helping the child build themselves.

Dr. Montessori felt students needed to hew very closely to rules within the classroom. That reading an writing (work by hand) were closely linked and writing by hand was vital. That students needed to be shown specifically how the numerical system worked and be provided a lot of practice.

There is an incredible level of direct, explicit instruction in a Montessori classroom. This is especially true in vocabulary, reading, math, facts of science, historical timelines, an empathy. Grace and Courtesy are the important words. But so are Cosmic and Obedience.

Another suggested trying women's pants and I just don't know if I can get over the mental block.