Independent Learner
One of our goals in the math department at Langston is to help our students become independent learners. Independent learning is a life long process, one that occurs in increments and involves continued growth as a person and a learner.
It will take teachers, students, and parents working together to begin this process of independent learning. Teachers will be working with students daily arming them with the skills needed to grow as independent learners.
Parents can help their children become successful independent learners by:
A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it had and it could go no further.
Then the man decided to help the butterfly, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.
Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.
What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were nature's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If we go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as we could have been. And we could never fly.
Author unknown
It will take teachers, students, and parents working together to begin this process of independent learning. Teachers will be working with students daily arming them with the skills needed to grow as independent learners.
Parents can help their children become successful independent learners by:
- understanding independent learning by reviewing Independent Learning Powerpoint and reviewing with your student (see Powerpoint Below)
- checking grades on the parent portal weekly and discussing with your child
- complete appropriate grade level essential concepts checklist with your student (found on tab above) and address any deficiencies found.
- be sure your child completes all homework assignments and allow him/her to struggle and learn to work through problems on their own before you intervene.
A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it had and it could go no further.
Then the man decided to help the butterfly, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.
Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.
What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were nature's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If we go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as we could have been. And we could never fly.
Author unknown
Independent Learner | |
File Size: | 639 kb |
File Type: | ppt |