2nd Edition
Teaching Students to Dig Deeper Ten Essential Skills for College and Career Readiness
What does it really mean for students to be college and career ready? In this new edition of Teaching Students to Dig Deeper, Ben Johnson identifies the ten attributes students need for success, according to key research, the College Board, the ACT, and rigorous state standards. In order to thrive beyond high school, students must become…
• Analytical thinkers
• Critical thinkers
• Problem solvers
• Inquisitive
• Opportunistic
• Flexible
• Open-minded
• Teachable
• Risk takers
• Expressive
But how? Johnson offers the answers, providing practical strategies and techniques for making the ten attributes come alive in the classroom, no matter what grade level or subject area you teach. With the book’s strategies and tools, you will be inspired, armed, and ready to help all of your students think on a deeper level and expand their learning.
Section I: Creating Thinkers
Introduction to Analytical Thinking, Critical Thinking,
and Problem Solving
Chapter 1: Analytical Thinkers
Chapter 2: Critical Thinkers
Chapter 3: Problem Solvers
Section I Conclusion: Thinking Can Be an Unbelievably Satisfying Learning Experience
Section II: Creating College- and Career-Ready Learners
What Is a Learner?
Chapter 4: Inquisitive Learners
Chapter 5: Opportunistic Learners
Chapter 6: Flexible Learners
Section II Conclusion: College- and Career-Ready
Learners Feel a Sense of Urgency
Section III: Building Resiliency
Chapter 7: Willingness to Accept Critical Feedback
Chapter 8: Willingness to Adjust Based on Feedback
Chapter 9: Openness to Possible Failure
Section III Conclusion: Building Resiliency Is Like Broccoli
Section IV: Creating Communicators
Chapter 10: Ability to Express Oneself in Writing and Orally
Chapter 11: Skilled at Information Gathering
Chapter 12: Drawing Inferences and Reaching Conclusions
Section IV Conclusion: Creating Effective Communicators
Final Notes
Biography
Ben Johnson is an educational leader and change agent with a mission to help students learn more by increasing teacher and administrator effectiveness. As Assistant Superintendent, he turned around a school district from near unacceptable to recognized in three years. He has mentored and coached multitudes of school instructional leaders to increase student learning throughout the state of Texas.
"In Teaching Students to Dig Deeper, Ben Johnson emphasizes the notion that all students today need to be Analytical Thinkers, Creative Thinkers, and Problem Solvers. He not only makes a case for each of these but goes on to outline strategies, methods, and ways that educators can go about teaching students to do this in their classes and work. The strategies he integrates in to the book and questions he poses will be quite helpful to readers and educators in a variety of educational positions." - Gregory Bartlett, Consultant, Brunswick School Department, ME
"I believe this book will be an excellent resource for school leaders trying to lead their staff in understanding the qualities necessary to prepare students to be College and Career Ready and then how to integrate the practice of these qualities into their classroom instruction." – Susan Gorman, Director of Student Improvement, Osawatomie School District #367, KS
