I am increasingly convinced that the most important thing we should be teaching young people in school is curiosity. Really, it’s not even close.
All the “content” extensively tested at the end of each school year is quickly forgotten if the student is not curious about it.
Conversely, a curious student can easily acquire any knowledge we teach in school. It’s easier now than it ever was. Curiosity is all it takes. I wrote yesterday about how easy it is now to become a better musician. That is true for every subject under the sun.
Encourage, empower, expect creativity. Teach for creativity and see what happens.
Perhaps some curious students won’t acquire their multiplication tables on the published lockstep schedule. But when something they want to do requires multiplication, they’ll figure it out quickly.
And more important, their curiosity will help them to keep learning their entire life.