Steph Harvey
I just spent the last two days learning from Stephanie Harvey. (Am I lucky or what?) There are so many big things I’m thinking about. Here’s there:
- We must live curious lives. Not curious like odd…curious like wondering and imagining and questioning. I’m planning to pay attention how curiosity plays out in my ordinary life.
- You don’t read because you’re smart. You’re smart because you read.
- Everyone can learn to think more expansively and extensively. We can teach strategies so students can become skillful, thoughtful, deep thinkers.
And here’s a bonus…
- There is not a shred of evidence that worksheets help kids learn (or give teachers any useful information to inform instruction).
Fun! Harvey has amazing voice and energy. What a treat. Though I agree with the worksheet issue, I do wonder about practice and how we give students authentic and varied practice. My students write it out (whatever it is, vocabulary, writing, etc.) but there are times when they need more practice. A graphic organizer or a worksheet or an exercise in a textbook can provide that, no? I think there is more to the worksheet conversation.
She is so right about worksheets but I have used grammar packets this year to focus a group of students who only understand “old” school. They could not find their seats or any form of focus unless they had a paper in front of them. We are slowly moving away from them and into their own writing, reading and understanding. We start where they are and move them along the road to “real reading and writing.” Thanks
More please – tell the story and what more did you discuss or learn – love hearing about others learning when I am caught in the wild world of the classroom and can’t see beyond my four walls.
I love learning from her! Thank you for the reminder of the amazing things she says.
Woah, you are so lucky! I was just reading one of her books today as well. : ) I hope you will share more on what you learned with her.
You ARE lucky! And that quote about reading goes up in my classroom library.