Curriculum committees, bureaucrats and educators?
Institutionalized knowledge experts? Textbook publishers?
Teachers, parents, all who search for truth?
Students seeking to construct personal knowledge?

Which statements are true? Which are false?

All teaching is intrinsically political?
Schooling is unnatural?
True learning evolves from motivation?
Educational labels become reality?

Who occupies my classroom?

Unmannerly children who need to learn the value of discipline?
Empty vessels who require knowledge?
Curious learners with their own opinions and perspectives?
Fellow learners seeking to build their version of the world?

Why can’t Adam read?

Does he see the same print I see?
What transaction is taking place between Adam and the text?
How is he responding internally to the print?
Is the experience a meaningful one for Adam?

Writing - what is it?

A boring, onerous, communications task?
A time consuming, recording procedure?
A method of clarifying ones representation of the world?
Thinking on paper, a unique form of learning?

What is mathematics?

A set of numeracy skills essential to modern life?
Boring, repetitive exercises - the domain of the calculator?
A logical, reasoned approach to problem solving?
An exciting, creative way to explore and make sense of the world?

What is testing?

An evaluative procedure to assess student progress?
A public relations scam to congratulate the educational system?
An accountability tool to ensure teachers do their jobs?
A discipline tool to keep students in line?

Perplexing questions?

What are the different kinds of literacy?
What does it mean to be mathematically competent?
Science, technology and media - Where will they lead?
How do the arts enrich the lives of students?

Monday morning questions?

Will I use the prescribed text or the weekend sports stats to teach average?
Will my students participate in meaningful reading and writing activities today?
Will I bring the ‘real world’ into the classroom so my students can be "in the know"?
Will I engage individual students in conversation?

A teacher needs to reflect...
to think quietly, to question,
to write critically, to dialogue thoughtfully, to ask

What kind of teacher am I?