The R-word

Daniel Willingham observes that college students are expected to be responsible for their own learning. He asks, "What happens during K-12 education to prepare students for this responsibility?"

Look at Willingham's example.

Is he really talking about responsibility for learning? Or is he talking about a more fundamental life skill, a kind of responsible self-management?

This isn't learned through lecture. It isn't learned from a book. It is learned from guided practice...Day after day, year after year children must being given countless opportunities to be responsible for their own learning and for their own behavior.

If students are too tightly managed, if they are always told what to do, they don't get that experience.

Dr. Montessori emphasized the important balance of freedom and responsibility.

Ask Montessori kids about the 3-R's and what do you hear?

Respect

Responsibility

Resourcefulness.