Discussion

Teaching to Student Strengths

Read the article Teaching Beyond the Book (Tomlinson & Jarvis, 2006),
and respond to the following prompt:

In the book Drive by Dan Pink (2009), the author states “For artists,
scientists, inventors, schoolchildren, and the rest of us, intrinsic
motivation – the drive to do something because it is interesting,
challenging, and absorbing – is essential for high levels of
creativity” (p. 45).  Based on the article by Tomlinson and Jarvis,
explain how each of the five principles of teaching to student
strengths can stimulate interest, challenge, and creativity in
students.  Further, discuss how teaching to student strengths can have
a positive impact on teachers, students, and the classroom community.
Lastly, discuss a time when you either seized an opportunity to
identify, recognize, and/or value the strengths in a child or
individual that resulted in a positive outcome.  How did this help to
stimulate creativity?