I recently read an article that began with the age-old saying “Give a man a fish, and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and feed him for a lifetime.” The author used this saying to separate good teachers from excellent ones. Her point was that excellent teachers teach a child how to learn—how to find answers for themselves. These students know that if an answer isn’t right in front of them, they have the tools to investigate and research.
Okay, so maybe this seems a bit lofty for the youngest of learners—and yet is it? Teachers of all age groups can encourage creative thinking, problem solving, and perseverance. I’d love to hear how you teach your students to fish.
Please share!
Diane
I let my kiddos explore materials and when they ask questions I ask them what do you think. I let them try different ways to achieve their goal. Its fun to watch that aha moment