Stretch
learning is exactly that – it “stretches” a student to achieve their potential
in individual classes, in school activities, and in their overall school
experience. It pushes them to become all they are capable of being.
Most schools
don’t stretch their students. Why not? Because most schools today are organized
on a “proficiency
model.” In other words, they believe their job is to get all their students to
the same level by a given date, and then measure the results with a test.
That’s
impossible!
Students come
to us with different levels of proficiency. They have different learning
styles, different interests and yes, different aptitudes. As the father of five, I know!
Stretch
learning is individualized. For one student it might be scoring well on the SATs; for a severely
disabled student, it might include learning critical daily living skills or
self-care habits. The IEP (Individualized
Education Program) process for our children with disabilities often does
this. All students would benefit from the IEP concept, without the layers of
regulations built around it, to guide their educational experience. But in the
end, stretch learning means moving students beyond their comfort zones.
We must move schools
into what Carol Dweck calls a “growth model,” where
we take each child from where they are today and move them as far as they can
go in the amount of time we have with them.
Why Stretch Learning Is Important
Take a look
at the world we live in. It’s unpredictable. It’s rapidly changing. It’s
interconnected. It’s diverse. Technology dominates. Students will not succeed
in this world if all we’ve done is prepare them to pass the latest state
assessment test. They’ll need much more: Creativity, innovation, teamwork, problem
solving, collaboration and tolerance, for starters. In today’s world, it’s not
about what you know, it’s about acquiring new knowledge and skills.
We cannot
continue to replicate the past. We must create a 21st century
education system that promotes lifelong learning, where students are not afraid
to go beyond their current boundaries. The world will pass us by if we don’t.
How Do You Teach It?
How do you
teach students to stretch? In different ways. Think about music classes. Or art
classes. Career tech ed. Physical education. Sports. Classes like that
stretched us. We lost sight of their value somewhere along the way. Educators
de-emphasized these classes to focus more on the next standardized test. Big
mistake!
One of the
important benefits of classes like this is they engage students. Students are not
passively sitting at their desks as the “sage on the stage” tries to impart
knowledge. Instead, students actively participate! Their teachers teach
differently. Think about it. The glee club teacher or the football coach is on
the sidelines, coaching, showing, cajoling, encouraging. Teachers and students
are engaged – and an engaged student is a strong, well-rounded student ready to
take on the unpredictability of the 21st century.
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