How You Feel > What You Know
A lot of teaching is focused on what we want kids to learn in each subject. But I think even more important than that is, how do we want kids to feel about each subject?
In today's world, factual knowledge and even skills are rapidly becoming outsourced to the internet and AI. Success is no longer driven by "can you answer the question", but rather do you know the right questions to be asking? And do you have the motivation to ask?
With that in mind, here's what I want to students to feel from their study of each subject:
Math -- Solving puzzles is interesting. I'm not afraid to tackle unknown problems and I feel a sense of accomplishment when I solve tough ones. Especially if the answer is beautifully elegant.
Language arts -- Reading and writing is fun! I like and feel confident looking for the right way to say something, both when I'm trying to be clear or when I'm writing to inspire and entertain.
Science -- I've started to ask "why" and "what if" about things a lot more. I can think of my own ideas for finding the answer, and when I do find it it usually inspires even more questions.
History -- I see a lot of patterns and connections across time and place. I like to ask why things happened the way they did, and look for supporting evidence to support my theories.
2nd Language -- It feels magical to learn about another culture through its own language. When I speak it it feels a bit like a superpower, and I feel a bit transformed too.
PE -- Moving around outdoors feels really good! I like the feeling of getting better at something with more practice, and I like working together with teammates.
Coding -- It's cool that I can make programs do what I tell them. I feel like I can go build anything.
Art -- It's nice to slow down and observe carefully sometimes. Taking the time to get all the details right is relaxing. I feel a lot of pride in my pieces; I put a lot of work into them.
SEL -- Feelings drive so much of what we do. I've learned to think more about how my actions impact the feelings of others, as well as to be more mindful of my own feelings.
Inner Fire curriculum is curated subject by subject towards these outcomes. It doesn't matter if you're learning multiplication or trigonometry, ancient Greece or the Civil War--a great education focuses on teaching students how to think and nurturing a love and comfort for the discipline, regardless of what you know or don't.
Sebastian 7/14/23
