Why Don't Students Like School? A Cognitive Scientist Answers Questions About How The Mind Works And What It Means For The Classroom Daniel T. Willingham

Kids are naturally curious, but when it comes to school it seems like their minds are turned off. Why is it that they can remember the smallest details from TV, yet miss the most obvious questions on their history test? Dan Willingham has conducted research on brain function, but also understands the daily challenges faced by teachers. This book will help teachers improve their practice by explaining how they and their students think and learn--revealing the importance of story, emotion, memory, context, and routine in building knowledge and creating lasting learning experiences.

Why Don’t Students Like School? is written by an esteemed cognitive psychologist who has conducted basic research on brain function, but who also understands the daily challenges faced by classroom teachers. The book draws its themes from the most frequently asked questions in his “Ask the Cognitive Scientist” column in the American Educator, such as – How can I teach students the skills they need when standardized testing just requires facts? Why do students remembers everything on TV, but forget everything I say? How should I adjust my teaching for different learning styles? And, more. Why Don’t Students Like School? will help teachers improve their practice by explaining how they and their students think and learn. It will be a valuable resource for both veteran and novice teachers, teachers-in-training, and for the principals, administrators, and staff development professionals who work with them.

Daniel T. Willingham (Charlottesville, VA) is professor of psychology at University of Virginia and a columnist for the American Educator. He speaks and writes nationally.