Chapter 7: Teaching for Understanding in Academically Diverse Classrooms

Understanding requires more than the memorization of facts and the ability to pass a test. “Active intellectual work” is necessary for students to truly gain understanding (108). Essential questions help students to use higher order thinking and begin to understand what they know, what they don’t, and what they wish to learn by using deep critical thinking. Teachers should remember that the ladder framework isn’t really how students learn. Learning does not happen sequentially, it is not always necessary to know the basics to explore the deeper questions; often, exploring big ideas helps to teach the basics. The WHERETO framework is also helpful in leading students to true understanding. All these ways of helping students think deeper and question further and understand better are essential for teachers to use in order to assist their students in deeper understanding.