The Global Achievement Gap (Chapter 2)

In Chapter 2, Wagner takes us on “Learning Walks” through several high schools. In these classroom observations he observes repeated examples of minimal student engagement, students working independently on low-level tasks like worksheets/workbooks, teachers lecturing, low-level test prep, and few meaningful authentic teacher-student interactions. Sadly, the administrators accompanying him were, in many cases, surprised that these examples were so different from what they saw in their formal observations. He also provides research data that indicates the situation is no better in elementary schools. He states that our students are learning at basic levels but they are not learning to be thinkers! I think as future teachers we need to try our best to give the best to every kid no matter where we work. Encourageing the kids and making them want to come back is what is most important.