The Game of School: Why We All Play It, How It Hurts Kids,and What It Will Take to Change ItStudents play it, teachers perpetuate it, parents condone it, principals endorse it, and governments legislate it. The “game of school” is that familiar scenario where students’ natural curiosity and desire to learn are replaced with a frantic rush (or a compliant shrug) to do the work, please the teacher, and get the grades. This game is easy to master, but exerts a high price. Can we afford to pay the price in wasted time and idle minds? In this compelling book, Robert L. Fried shows how we can change the rules of the game, reclaim and refocus the learning experience, and ultimately bring joy back into the classroom. The Game of School is filled with interviews and stories of teachers and students who are struggling to put the game of school behind them and engage in authentic learning. We experience the excitement of the first day of first grade; listen to urban teens discuss Shakespeare’s Othello; and meet a college student who is beginning to question her long disengagement with learning. We are introduced to seven types of learners--from “go-getters” to “pluggers” to “rebels”--and find out how the game shapes their relationship to schooling and life. |
Contents
Wasting Time | 1 |
Elcira Delgados Show | 17 |
The Game of School up Through the Grades | 23 |
Copyright | |
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academic adults Al-Maalik Alfie Kohn assessment authentic learning become beginning teachers behavior Caitlin challenge Chapter Cherry Picker child classroom management corps members create creative curriculum David Ervin Deborah Meier dents Earlham College Elcira engage experience eyes feel focus Fried friends Game of School goal going grade Heidi Heidi Thomas high school homework ideas instruction interest interlude Ira Glass Jonathan Kozol kids Kyisha learning spirit lessons lives look love to learn math Matt Groening Melanie middle school motivation Nate never ourselves parents Passionate Teacher playing the Game Pluggers questions Quoted in Cushman Rachel Carson reminds response role self-motivation sense social someone stance stuck student teachers stuff talk teachers and students teaching and learning tell things topic Tyra what's write young