This Takes Too Much Time!

Laurian Phillips
Sep 22, 2008

This takes too much time!  This is probably the most often heard comment by participants in our trainings.  Why do teachers feel this way?  There may be a number of reasons, one of which is that effective planning does take a lot of time.  However, if you are not planning effectively, then why plan at all?  We do know that the planning and lesson writing process gets much easier and goes much faster the more you do it.  The Learning-Focused Strategies Model training forces us to learn a new process and in doing so, we become the learner.  Adults are sometimes reluctant to learn new things, because we have found that "comfort zone" that we tend to operate in most often.  Learning new things is difficult and does not come easy.  We, like our students, must practice in order to get better and faster.
 
Madeline Hunter said, "If you want to feel secure, do what you already know how to do.  If you want to be a true professional and continue to grow...go to the cutting edge of your competence, which means a temporary loss of security.  So, whenever you don't quite know what you're doing, know that you are growing."  It is okay to feel a temporary loss of security, knowing that when you implement the Learning-Focused Model, you have a goal of Exemplary Instruction in mind.  The Amazing Book of Connections for Learning states the 9.5 Outcomes of Exemplary Instruction:

1.    Connects prior knowledge and experiences to make new learning meaningful

2.    Creates new meaning

3.    Organizes information

4.    Stores information

5.    Deepens understanding

6.    Builds connections

7.    Develops higher level thinking

8.    Uses thinking in meaningful ways

9.    Focuses performance

    Generates Student Success!

To learn more Exemplary Instruction, see our new product, The Amazing Book of Connections for Learning. Especially helpful might be the section on Teaching for Learning on pages 120-121.