Chapter 7: "Teaching Difficult Academic Material"

The aspects of the chapter jumped out at me as especially important. First, the students' suggestion to link the material to what they already know. Second, the idea of approaching the topic from different ways. These are found on pages 124 and 125.

This chapter is the student perspective on something that we teachers are constantly thinking about and trying to achieve: student understanding. Both of the ideas I mention above are fundamental factors in teaching for understanding. Students must be able to connect what they are learning to what they already know, and their own lives, if they are to be engaged. Second, trying different approaches will appeal to more student backgrounds and more learning styles. This is part of being a dynamic and responsive teacher.