We have to stop pretending...

Challenges - rise to them or let them be. This one I had to try.

Earlier this week Scott McLeod challenged educator/bloggers to post their five choices of things we have to stop pretending in education and hashtag it #MakeSchoolDifferent. I'd read my first post by Robert Schuetz,  saw another by Tom Whitby, and then I was challenged by Tim Scholze on his blog to do the same.

I encourage you to read Scott's, Bob's, Tim's, and the collection of statements made by so many connected educators.

We have to stop pretending...

• that we are REALLY LISTENING to students, and trying what they want us to try.
• that we actually know what other teachers/classes are doing down the hall in their classrooms.
• that we know half of what we think we know about what to do in our classrooms (aside from making students feel they matter).
• that all students should be interested in our curriculum. 
• that extra credit is okay. 

This was a difficult challenge for me.  I didn't want to offend anyone, so I started thinking about my own thoughts that I know could be disputed. I find myself still pretending these five sometimes, even though I know I'm wrong.

What do you think? What are the five things you think we need to stop pretending? I'm challenging the following bloggers to add their voice to the conversation. #MakeSchoolDifferent...

I know this is a tough challenge, so we'll all understand if you don't blog about it! Be sure to follow these forward-thinking educators, even so:

     Michael Matera
     Shawn McCusker
     JoAnn Jacobs
     Gallit Zvi
     Denise Krebs