WHAT ROLE DOES CURIOSITY PLAY IN CHILDREN'S LEARNING?

"CURIOSITY IS THE WICK IN THE CANDLE OF LEARNING!" William Allan Ward

I was bouncing around Twitter when I ran into an April 13, 2015 article published in Psychology Today that features the findings of Dr. Marilyn Price-Mitchell.  Dr. Mitchell's  research focusses on child and adolescent development and their involvement in societal civic issues. She has written a book, The Moment of Youth and describes her findings on the role of CURIOSITY in learning. She further discusses on how teachers, parents, others can increase and engage the childrens' curiosity while learning and keep that curiosity alive.

She recently posted about "Curiosity: The Heart of Lifelong Learning  How to Nurture a Child's Hungry Mind." https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-moment-youth/201504/curiosity-the-heart-lifelong-learning https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-moment-youth/201504/curiosity-the-heart-lifelong-learning  

I think this article is an excellent read for teachers who are seeking an advantage to engaging  their students in learning and encouraging life-long learning.  It gives ten solid ways to encourage students' curiosity, how to model curiosity in the classroom, how to notice and reward curiosity and instill unending curiosity that will ask "why" in situations to find the underlying problems in society as well as produce ideas for the solution of these problems. 

This article is the first of eight in a series she has written for educators emphasizing curiosity and it's role in developing youth into our next generation of inventors and problem solvers. Dr. Mitchell is also the leader in development of the Compass Advantage Program which involves schools, parents and communities in the positive development of youth. The article also leads to many other resources. 

Did I stimulate your curiosity? Give it a read. It's one of those articles that can provide fuel for the rest of the school year.....but I think this one may go way beyond the rest of the school year.  It might just add to the wonderful ways you are teaching today. Let's keep those bright candles burning.