Lorna Pringle

Practical strategies for bringing The Learning Challenge to life in your secondary ELA classroom The Learning Challenge has captured the imaginations of educators, students, and their parents by introducing the idea of Learning Pit"—a state of cognitive conflict that causes students to think more deeply, critically, and strategically until they discover their "eureka!" moment. Now, fans of the The Learning Challenge who want practical examples and ready-to-use lessons for their secondary ELA classrooms need not look any further. This book provides teachers with everything they need to run thoughtful, dialogue-driven challenges so that students engage more deeply with the classics and develop literary skills critical to ELA standards. Students will analyze texts in lessons grounded in cognitive conflicts such as We are all responsible for our own actions, and yet we sometimes act because we are following orders or instructions from others (Lesson 1: Who was responsible for the death of William in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein?)To be successful you cannot fail, but most successful people have experienced many failures along the way (Lesson 7: Was Jay Gatsby a success?)Love is impossible to define, and yet everyone knows what love is (Lesson 11: Is Romeo really in love?) From detailed lesson plans and activities for running Learning Challenges in the classroom, to full-color activity cards that enhance each lesson, this must-have resource offers relevant and timely instructional strategies on topics that interest and engage secondary students.

Jumpstart meaningful learning for students with new Learning Challenge lessons Twenty new lessons, created to accompany The Learning Challenge, provide teachers with everything needed to run thoughtful, dialogue-driven challenges for elementary school students. Each compelling and developmentally-appropriate lesson invites young students to think, to be reasonable, to make moral decisions, and to understand another person’s point of view—all critical skills in today’s complex world. Detailed lesson plans help teachers facilitate rigorous discussion around topics of current importance and include activities and techniques that encourage students into the "Learning Pit" to explore ideas and uncertainties with others through dialogue.