by Alan Haskvitz

Nothing creates instant interest more than something on the news that relates to a student's life. Weather, elections, civil disobedience, holidays, sports events and world record attempts offer teachable moments that can be used to create lifelong learning opportunities.

Teachable moments are stellar learning events because they stretch the student's imagination. They open the arena of what-if questions that go far beyond repeating facts into decision making and critical thinking.
One caveat -- the fact is that teachable moments are not always about current events. They can be about anything that catches the pupil's fancy. This requires the use of the Socratic teaching method, which is based on questioning. The teacher asks students a series of questions, trying to draw out their opinions, fleshing out the discussion with facts and assumptions, and encouraging deeper thinking and understanding of an issue. For certain learners, it is the best way to involve them, and for all students, it can result in greater understanding.

Parents often overlook teachable moments due to three main reasons. First, the parent is in a hurry. Second, the parent does not feel they have the intellectual background to pursue the discussion. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the parent does not know how to turn a question into a teachable moment. For example in a supermarket, every box, vegetable, package and price is a teachable moment. Elements of geography, architecture, agriculture, math, social studies and economics are everywhere.

So a parent must look for these moments to nurture interest. Giving a child a video game or a book to read on a trip may silence them, but they are also missing real learning opportunities. Questions for discussion range from the size of the car, length of the journey, direction and gas mileage to what the numbers on the radio dial mean. A parking meter, the colors of a curb, fire hydrants and even the shadows cast by the sun cannot be overlooked as a child develops awareness.

Unfortunately, the more a child becomes aware of his or her surroundings, the more time it takes for a parent to go about a task. A quick trip to return a sweater can take significantly more time as a more fully aware child peppers a parent with questions.

I must note here that asking questions is not learning. Some children love the attention a question provides them, but the actual answer is ancillary to their purpose. So a teachable moment needs to be attached to a thinking question. If an aware child asks a question about the fact a sweater is made of wool and the parents simply states it comes from sheep, that reply is meaningless without follow-up. It is like a game show where an answer may win the contest, but has nothing to do with knowledge. It is merely an extension of the player's ability to retain facts. When the parent explains what wool is, he or she should compare it to other products such as nylon and cotton, so their child recognizes different materials have different uses and values. This results in a child who can see relationships and evaluate data. This last element is one of the highest academic skills a child can develop.

One thing is for certain -- teachable moments cannot be planned or planned for. They happen randomly and, thus, do not appeal to those locked into a tight schedule or routine. However, these moments can be redirected. A child may not be ready to understand the various types of sheep that produce wool or the difference between the types of wool produced. But, their question can be redirected into one about what society gets from domesticated animals or even the differences between wool and human hair -- areas they can understand and make connections with easily.

A parent or teacher who cares about maximizing teachable moments might consider having the student keep a card file titled, "What I learned Today." At the end of each day a child thinks about what happened during the day and writes or tells the parent what was learned. This file quickly builds, and if done with alphabetical separators, can be a great way to connect previous discoveries.

Since no parent or teacher can master every subject, it is also of great value to tell that to the child. However, instead of letting the teachable moment pass, the parent or teacher should admit they don't know and need to research the information. This serves as a model to the child and teaches that just saying "I don't know" is not an answer, but a teachable moment for all concerned.

Some good links follow to help with teachable moments and to supply information for finding answers and stimulating a child's interest beyond home or school.

Spur Interests with Butterflies and Bugs

Teaching Economics
For money lessons, try this site.

Sports/Games
Sports offer opportunities to learn about teams and write letters.

Auto Companies
Vehicles arouse curiosity in everyone. These websites provide contact information.

Teachable Moment
Free lessons about current events

NCSS Teachable Moments
Current event related links

Sustaining Teachable Moments on the Complex Edge of Chaos
Taxonomy -- an objective way to use these moments.