Developing a Vocabulary for Success

A good vocabulary is an essential element for life and learning. My father had an incredible passion for learning new words and he took every opportunity to instill that same passion in me as he helped me study my vocabulary words in grade school. I have vivid memories of him pronouncing the words backwards and I would have to spell them correctly. His goal was for me to know them so well that I could literally spell them backwards and forwards. If anything, it helped me create visual images of the words rather than having to memorize their correct spelling.

Words are important to us because they help us communicate in an articulate manner. Words help bring clarity to our thoughts and life to our ideas. The following are some words that are foundational to how we develop patterns of success.

·         Intention (noun): the thing that you plan to do or achieve; an aim or purpose.

·         Purpose (noun): the reason why something is done or used; the aim or intention of something; the feeling of being determined to do or achieve something; the aim or goal of a person; what a person is trying to do, become, etc.

·         Plan (noun): a set of actions that have been thought of as a way to do or achieve something; something that a person intends to do.

·         Goal (noun): something that you are trying to do or achieve.

·         Success (noun): the fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect, or fame; the correct or desired result of an attempt; someone or something that is successful; a person or thing that succeeds. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary)

Live with intention and purpose. Make a plan for your life and establish goals that will place you on the path to success. If not, life is lived from one purposeless event to another. There are no plans or goals. We merely exist waiting for something to happen. Would it not be better to live with intention and purpose?

There is a better way to live described as:

·         Coram Deo: Living Coram Deo is to live one’s life entire in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the Glory of God. To live all of life Coram Deo is to live a life of integrity. It is a life of wholeness that finds its unity and coherency in the majesty of God. (http://www.ligonier.org)

Praying that we impact our students in such a way that they live life entirely in the presence of God.

Oed Maroc,

Elton O. Brooke, Ed. D.

Passing the Test but Failing to Learn

The professor entered our classroom on the first day of class and began lecturing as he walked between the rows of chairs. He introduced himself and stated that there would be two tests in the class; one over the first half of the text book and one over the second half. Material from his lectures would also be on the tests, so we better take copious notes.

I partnered with a friend (Steve) to study for the tests. About two weeks out from the first exam, we created lists of items from the first half of the text and compiled lists of important topics from the lecture notes. This is when I discovered the power of note cards as a study tool. Steve and I created acronyms, lists, and questions of everything we could imagine that would be on the test. We quizzed each other for days, and stayed up all night before the test. When 7:30 a.m. rolled around, we were already seated in the class and ready for the test. We were usually the first ones finished with the test – which we aced with no problem!

Here is the sad part; I don’t remember the name of the course or anything on the tests. I only remember the process of memorizing information to get an “A” in the course.

What did I learn? Techniques to memorize material? Absolutely! But where was the critical thinking and interaction with the content of the course? How did I cognitively connect information with practical application? Or, was the purpose of the course to be impressed with the professor’s knowledge and his gracious sharing with the unlearned. I’m sorry, what was the question?

The past 25 years in education have left an indelible mark on my life. Learning is more than education and assessments. It goes deep into the soul of the person and changes their perspective of the world and their place and purpose in life. Here are 5 things that I have “learned” from my experiences.

1.      The issue is not unanswered questions; the issue is unquestioned answers. Learning is more than discovering the correct answer, it is discovering truth. We may miss the truth if all we are seeking is the correct answer. Asking questions provokes critical thinking more so than merely providing answers. Questions can be threatening to the person who can only provide answers.

2.      Learning is both a shared spiritual and deeply personal pilgrimage – it’s not something I give “to” students – it’s something I “do” with them. Gone are the days, at least they should be waning, where the teacher is the keeper of all knowledge. Learning is the sharing of thoughts and the exchange of ideas and concepts, and the freedom to be wrong within the safe environment of a learning community.

3.      Yes, unequivocally, learning involves the mastering of information; students must know certain content before they can move to the next level. The basics of math and grammar must be grasped so that higher order thinking processes develop. The what (content) should lead to discovery of the why and how of understanding and application.

4.      We have been raising an isolated generation since the advent of Walkman Radios and headphones. Now we have a generation raised on IPhones and IPads with ear buds and blue tooth devices. The electronics are more advanced, but people are still isolated from humanity. We must open their hearts before we open their minds.

5.      We learn lessons from the school of suffering that we can learn in no other way. Learning and change are inextricably linked to the reality of human suffering.

We live in an educational environment where learning is defined by assessment scores and academic benchmarks. Both of these are good, but learning is more than percentages and numeric averages. It is possible to pass the test and fail to learn what is truly meaningful and necessary in life.

Experience: that most brutal of teachers, but you learn, my God do you learn.

(C. S. Lewis)

Continually learning…

Elton O. Brooke, Ed. D.