Philosophy of 'SLOW'

'The philosophy of 'slow' is a compelling movement, which has been gathering respect, research and followers across the world in just about every dimension of life and learning. It's the greatest challenge to the destructive mantra that speed is good, and that anything which causes us to slow down and live our lives at a healthier pace is somehow bad. As Gandhi said, there is more to life than increasing its speed.'
The above quote is the opening paragraph from the latest issue of Teaching Expertise. Ever considered the implications of slowling down in the classroom and in teaching in general. Learning takes place at a different pace for different people and hurring them to learn more in a short time is not going to help. Below are some points to consider for slowling down in the classroom (as discussed in Teaching Expertise)

1. Apparently Harvard sends a plea to its freshmen to 'slow down'. The letter puts the case for getting more from life by doing less. Overdrive is destructive. Selective slowness helps us to learn, work and live better.

2. In your work in the classroom, regularly ask yourself the question: is faster better? The authors of Einstein Never Used Flash Cards: How our children really learn and why they need to play more and memorize less (Kathryn Hirsh-Pasek and Roberta Michnick Golinkoff, Rodale Press, 2003) have gathered plenty of research to suggest that the answer to that question will rarely be 'yes'.

3. Are there ways in which you can safely remove regimentation and hurry in your classroom?

4. How often do pupils in your lessons focus on the three 'Rs' of reflection, restoration and recollection? Maurice Holt, Emeritus Professor of Education at the University of Colorado at Denver, believes that 'fast schools' are the equivalent of fast food – containing little of lasting substance. How nutritious is the learning in your school?

5. Are there any children you teach in particular who show signs of needing to slow down? Does your understanding of learning styles incorporate those who need to learn s-l-o-w-l-y?

Visit In Praise of Slow to get more details of this new phenomenon.