Introduction
The success of the teaching process largely depends on the teacher’s ability to prioritize what truly matters. It is the focus on the most critical aspects of learning that enables students to acquire literacy skills most efficiently and effectively. Mike Schmoker’s (2018) book Focus discusses what should be emphasized in education. The author discusses the essentials of knowledge acquisition, which are often overshadowed by superficial educational aspects, ultimately affecting the success of students. This paper will examine the significance of developing fundamental skills, identify what students’ needs are currently at risk, and discuss possible practical implementations of Schmoker’s recommendations.
Main Arguments in the Book
One of the most critical points the author makes is that educators should not overlook the importance of developing fundamental skills, such as reading, writing, and participating in discussions. To begin with, Schmoker (2018) emphasizes that students’ vocabulary acquisition depends on the extent to which their reading skills are advanced and the amount of attention paid to reading in general. He says: “Reading growth depends, more than anything, on our ability to build up students’ knowledge base and vocabulary” (Schmoker, 2018, p. 27). Indeed, at the present moment, the importance of this vital literacy skill appears to have been forgotten, and the number of students who do not engage in any form of reading is alarming.
Writing is another essential skill that Schmoker identifies as the basis for one’s success. He states: “plain old reading and writing” -who learn, that is, to use knowledge to develop and communicate creative combinations of ideas, applications, and strategies to solve problems” (Schmoker, 2018, p. 30). As such, the ability to successfully convey one’s thoughts lies at the basis of their advancement in any sphere; therefore, the focus on these spheres should not be overlooked.
Schmoker also describes how certain practices adopted by educators can pose a risk to students’ development and their overall needs. According to him, even when a particular practice may be deemed insignificant, it can still significantly damage a child’s learning ability. He mentions: “When I visit classrooms and schools, I see up close how seemingly innocent practices and products just described do long-lasting, perhaps irreparable, harm” (Schmoker, 2018, p. 132).
In particular, he refers to teachers’ focus on standardized testing instead of developing what is truly essential: authentic literacy skills (Schmoker, 2018). Critical thinking skills are often not considered essential, which can ultimately lead to harm in various ways. Overall, the current approach to testing and teaching students does not equip them with the skills they truly need to succeed.
Teachers can implement many of Schmoker’s recommendations to increase the focus on developing the most essential skills. To begin with, schools need to reorganize their curricula to emphasize reading, writing, and facilitating discussions. It would be necessary to change the curricula almost entirely, as they currently serve a different purpose in learning. Secondly, all activities should be analyzed to identify those that contradict the needs of students or do not contribute to literacy development in any way. The implementation of these strategies will have a highly positive effect on students’ performance.
Conclusion
To conclude, Schmoker’s book discusses the need to change the priorities in education. The system should be reevaluated to prioritize the most critical skills, while harmful practices should be eliminated. This can be achieved by modifying the curriculum and analyzing activities to eliminate harmful practices. If educators follow these recommendations, more students will be able to achieve academic and professional success.
Reference
Schmoker, M. (2018). Focus: Elevating the essentials to radically improve student learning (2nd ed.). ASCD.