Heather Wolpert-Gawron

Viewing: metacognition

End-Of-Year Reflection: The Epic Poem Haiku

By on May 17, 2017

As we’re ending the school year, I know that the tween brains in my classroom are all silently deciding what information will be transferred to long-term memory and what will forever be taken out with the trash. To hopefully avoid

The mythical superhuman teacher

The mythical superhuman teacher

By on April 10, 2009

Yes, there are many problems in education.  But many of them boil down to the fact that we are a cadre of professionals who are taken advantage of as part of the job requirement.

Spontaneous Public Displays of Art

Spontaneous Public Displays of Art

By on April 8, 2009

I can’t wait to show my 8th Grade Honors class this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq6b9bMBXpg. It’s a great display of the act of spreading the arts publicly and on a huge scale.   My students have been working all year on their

Teaching Secrets: Finding a Job That You Love

Teaching Secrets: Finding a Job That You Love

By on March 25, 2009

Know a teacher who got a pink slip?  Maybe my newest post at Teacher Magazine can help.  Click here for the article. It’s Step 1 of my Top Secret New Teacher Handbook.  Hope it creates some shortcuts, a machete even,

DARPA to create metacognitively aware robots

DARPA to create metacognitively aware robots

By on February 24, 2009

The Register reports that DARPA (Defense Advance Research Projects Agency) is currently researching how to create robots that are “like some self-aware computer systems capable of “meta-reasoning” and “introspection…”  Their goal is to “Provide machines with an ability to reason

“I Statements” in Expository Writing

“I Statements” in Expository Writing

By on February 18, 2009

This weekend I’m presenting at the CATE conference in Santa Clara, CA.  It’s a session on developing high level, critical-thinking commentary in expository writing.  My feeling is that great commentary is the Voice in Expository, it is the Show, Not

Starting from scratch in teacher training

Starting from scratch in teacher training

By on February 18, 2009

I recently heard Judy Willis (of “syn-naps” fame) speak at a conference.  In her pre-teaching life, she was a neurologist and she brings her knowledge to the classroom and to her lectures.  (See my recently published article in Teacher Magazine, “My

Is EdTech changing how students think or is it addressing the changes in student thinking?

Is EdTech changing how students think or is it addressing the changes in student thinking?

By on January 29, 2009

Science Daily is reporting that there has been a shift in how students are thinking as a result of their use of technology.  They believe it possibly lowers critical thinking skills and analysis.  Additionally, they wonder just how much schools

Marketing Metacognition

Marketing Metacognition

By on January 25, 2009

So I just got the January MindWare catalogue and I realize that here we have a toy catalogue that is solely for metacognitive purchases.  So this got me thinking: how can schools market metacognition?  I realized, of course, that until

Asking for Student Opinions Isn’t Risky, It’s Rewarding

Asking for Student Opinions Isn’t Risky, It’s Rewarding

By on January 24, 2009

I was reading this great article from Slate Magazine about the cheese that is Billy Joel.  And I thought back to many a car trip singing his “Themes from an Italian Restaurant.”  I also remembered just how many times I’d

Recalling your own Metacognition

Recalling your own Metacognition

By on January 20, 2009

I’ve been working on metacognitive lessons with my middle schoolers in an attempt to teach reflection and the act of thinking about thinking.  Anyway, one of the most important elements in teaching about thinking is in your own remembering of

But what if the child does everything in their power to be “left behind?”

But what if the child does everything in their power to be “left behind?”

By on January 11, 2009

The Boston Globe is reporting that some students deliberately “shoot themselves in their own foot.”  Some of the reason is that trying hard is frightening.  Now, don’t get all uppity.  Let’s face it; even the most mature of adults may

CUE 2009

CUE 2009

By on November 16, 2008

I have two sessions that I will be presenting at CUE in March this year.  I thought I’d share a little of what I sent to them to give you a little preview of what I’m going to be talking

Should a free education be unconditional?

Should a free education be unconditional?

By on September 6, 2008

So you know when you get your group of kids on the first day, there are those who immediately set off your alarms?  Well, that definitely happened to me on my first day. I have a student who clearly needs

Sheridan Blau at the UCIWP

Sheridan Blau at the UCIWP

By on July 14, 2008

OK, normally, I would reflect on one of the presenters at the UCIWP with my own spin-off thoughts and musings. Not so today.  Here are some Golden Lines from today’s presentation with Sheridan Blau, award-winning educator, past president of NCTE,

Joanne Jacobs comment:”Stop facilitating and start teaching”

Joanne Jacobs comment:”Stop facilitating and start teaching”

By on July 6, 2008

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer posts a not-so-intelligent take on teacher vs. student-directed classrooms.

The Carnival #178 is in town!

The Carnival #178 is in town!

By on July 2, 2008

The Carnival #178 has come to town!

Too Metacognitive to Think Properly

Too Metacognitive to Think Properly

By on June 27, 2008

Today my colleague and I were almost hit by a car while we talking about thinking with clarity. Sigh.