huskergal
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,979 
|
Post by huskergal on Feb 28, 2024 17:08:01 GMT
Do you think reading and following directions is a life skill?
|
|
Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,660
|
Post by Rhondito on Feb 28, 2024 17:20:50 GMT
Absolutely.
|
|
|
|
Post by myshelly on Feb 28, 2024 17:24:08 GMT
Yes. An incredibly important life skill.
|
|
|
|
Post by originalvanillabean on Feb 28, 2024 17:25:31 GMT
Very much so, yes.
|
|
|
|
Post by angieh1996 on Feb 28, 2024 17:55:05 GMT
YES! I know some people that need a refresher.
|
|
pilcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,907
|
Post by pilcas on Feb 28, 2024 17:58:40 GMT
Yes, I can’t possibly count all the times a person asks a question that has already been answered in the text they supposedly read.
|
|
|
|
Post by papersilly on Feb 28, 2024 18:02:20 GMT
reading for sure. and basic math.
|
|
snyder
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,935
Location: Colorado
|
Post by snyder on Feb 28, 2024 18:12:26 GMT
Definitely yes, but I do give grace to those that appear to be visual learners.
|
|
twinsmomfla99
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,975
|
Post by twinsmomfla99 on Feb 28, 2024 18:12:40 GMT
Absolutely.
Just out of curiosity, who is suggesting this is not a life skill?
|
|
|
|
Post by Linda on Feb 28, 2024 18:50:24 GMT
absolutely - and while learning differences and neurospiciness can make it a harder skill to master, it's still an important one.
|
|
huskergal
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,979
|
Post by huskergal on Feb 28, 2024 19:14:11 GMT
Absolutely. Just out of curiosity, who is suggesting this is not a life skill? No one. I am just finding that the longer I teach, the harder it is to get kids to read and follow directions. I understand my struggling students, but I am talking middle of the road to advanced students. They do not want to read directions. They just want to do. I think it is a very important skill so especially with 8th graders, I make them follow tutorials. When they ask me how to do something, the first thing I ask is "did you read the directions". When I help, we read the directions out loud. I am trying to figure out a way to get them to practice this skill. |
|
quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,692
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
|
Post by quiltz on Feb 28, 2024 20:09:40 GMT
I am trying to figure out a way to get them to practice this skill. Try to put together anything from Ikea. |
|
|
|
Post by Lexica on Feb 28, 2024 20:27:04 GMT
Can you add something buried in the directions such as to write their name upside down at the bottom of the page and then reward each student that followed the instruction with a certificate to get out of that night’s homework or give them a little piece of candy or something? Or would this be frowned upon? I am thinking that making it a fun game might entice them to read everything carefully.
|
|
|
|
Post by monklady123 on Feb 28, 2024 20:39:59 GMT
Omg yes! I've just spent the day with 3rd graders (after spending the past two weeks with these same 3rd graders) and wow. The teachers are trying of course, but I know plenty of adults who seem to have missed this lesson. I see it in church a lot... Announcement is put in the email newsletter. Same announcement is mailed out in paper form (back when we had a paper newsletter). Same announcement is spoken out loud by me on Sunday morning in my seminary trained voice that can project to the back pew (where everyone likes to sit)... And you know I will get questions about that exact announcement.  My daughter works for a company that takes proposals from organizations who want to bid on a particular project. The project RFP ("request for proposal") might say "no more than 50 pages, with xyz margins, and headers for each section" and dd will get proposals of 70 pages with bigger-than-xyz margins and no headers. wow. If dd's team is too annoyed that day they won't even look at those, they send them right back. Yes, a definitely life skill, if for no other reason than to NOT annoy your friends/colleagues.  |
|
|
|
Post by rst on Feb 28, 2024 20:44:10 GMT
Like Lexica mentioned above -- I recall around 8th grade we had a teacher who told us repeatedly to always read the directions on the test. Most did not. After repeated reminders, she gave us a test with a pretty solid block of text as instructions, which most people did not read. Embedded in the text was the instruction to write your name at the top and write nothing else, but sit quietly for 15 minutes, and then we would be given permission to leave early. Only 2 of us followed those instructions, the rest of the class raced madly through several pages of easy math problems. As I recall, this "test" did not count as part of our grade but "passing" did give us a couple of free passes on turning in homework. I've never forgotten that, lo these many years later.
|
|
huskergal
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,979
|
Post by huskergal on Feb 28, 2024 21:01:12 GMT
I am trying to figure out a way to get them to practice this skill. Try to put together anything from Ikea. Which was one of the things I was thinking about. Another teacher and I said that should be a class! |
|
twinsmomfla99
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,975
|
Post by twinsmomfla99 on Feb 28, 2024 21:02:31 GMT
Absolutely. Just out of curiosity, who is suggesting this is not a life skill? No one. I am just finding that the longer I teach, the harder it is to get kids to read and follow directions. I understand my struggling students, but I am talking middle of the road to advanced students. They do not want to read directions. They just want to do. I think it is a very important skill so especially with 8th graders, I make them follow tutorials. When they ask me how to do something, the first thing I ask is "did you read the directions". When I help, we read the directions out loud. I am trying to figure out a way to get them to practice this skill. I know it sounds silly, but I would not have been surprised if there was someone out there arguing about some “woke” policy requiring this instruction. Or someone arguing that it wasn’t “inclusive.” I’m relieved (but sorry for you) that it’s just a matter of frustration for you as a teacher instead of some new movement in education. |
|
|
|
Post by sabrinae on Feb 28, 2024 21:16:01 GMT
There are also teachers who suck at providing directions for students to follow in a timely manner. My daughter had to do a science fair project this year. She got the directions on how to put together her paper and project board on Wednesday. It was due the following Monday. She had spent 3 weeks asking for specifics so she could work on her project.
|
|
|
|
Post by busy on Feb 28, 2024 21:22:56 GMT
Yes
But also... GIVING good, clear, concise directions is an equally important skill.
I am at a trade show this week for the first time and over four days I have 62 different meetings, receptions, meals, transportation arrangements, etc. with/made by various vendors. (These are not standard travel reservations I made myself.)
I'd say at least a quarter of those have unclear or incomplete directions, or assume that someone has previously attended the show and has pre-existing knowledge. The amount of time I've wasted chasing down clarifying information is really annoying.
|
|
|
|
Post by gizzy on Feb 28, 2024 21:36:55 GMT
Yes.
|
|
|
|
Post by librarylady on Feb 28, 2024 21:44:27 GMT
Oh, you have hit my "annoys the H--- out of me" button. The general public cannot/will not read and follow directions! My annoyance began when I was in college and working at a drug store. We had a stamp machine that said (IIRC) put your money in first and then make selections. EVERY day, EVERY DAY--I had to walk someone through how to use the stamp machine. FF to teaching 5th graders--I had a page of 15 "questions" that I used every year. It was similar to rst's post. #1 said "read all of this page before doing anything. Read every statement before answering any question. Then there were random things, a couple of math problems, however there were a couple of silly things such as "Stand up and turn around 3 times, then sit down." "Say aloud: I am the best at following directions.' The final statement said, "write your name on this page and sit quietly until the teacher announces time is up. It was an attempt to get them to read and FOLLOW DIRECTIONS! I hope those kids, now adults, remember it and follow directions. |
|
|
|
Post by Merge on Feb 29, 2024 2:58:16 GMT
Yes But also... GIVING good, clear, concise directions is an equally important skill. I am at a trade show this week for the first time and over four days I have 62 different meetings, receptions, meals, transportation arrangements, etc. with/made by various vendors. (These are not standard travel reservations I made myself.) I'd say at least a quarter of those have unclear or incomplete directions, or assume that someone has previously attended the show and has pre-existing knowledge. The amount of time I've wasted chasing down clarifying information is really annoying. This is a hallmark of good teaching - being able anticipate student misunderstanding effectively enough to give directions in a way that prevents most problems. In talking with my DH, he also considers it a hallmark of good business leadership. (It’s also one of the reasons experienced teachers are more effective and should not be pushed out of the classroom in favor of younger, cheaper teachers - but I digress …) And to answer the OP - yes, reading and following directions is a skill that seems to grow weaker with each passing year. Or even listening to and following directions . People seem to have lost the skill of reading/listening and actually visualizing what they need to do so they can do it. |
|
|
|
Post by 950nancy on Feb 29, 2024 3:06:41 GMT
I reallllly agree with this when I am rushed and it takes twice as long to figure something out when I try to skip this step.
|
|
|
|
Post by crazy4scraps on Feb 29, 2024 3:19:11 GMT
Absolutely. Just out of curiosity, who is suggesting this is not a life skill? No one. I am just finding that the longer I teach, the harder it is to get kids to read and follow directions. I understand my struggling students, but I am talking middle of the road to advanced students. They do not want to read directions. They just want to do. I think it is a very important skill so especially with 8th graders, I make them follow tutorials. When they ask me how to do something, the first thing I ask is "did you read the directions". When I help, we read the directions out loud. I am trying to figure out a way to get them to practice this skill. Yes it is a very important life skill. I see this happening with my own 8th grader, so part of it might just be their age. I swear, I can give my kid instructions on how to do something, even show her how to do it, and the next time she goes to do it she still does it wrong.  She also really hated the word problems in math that had a bunch of different steps that had to be done in a sequence. She’d be wailing while I’d be sitting there helping her with her homework telling her to JUST SLOW DOWN and READ THE DIRECTIONS. OMG. So frustrating. |
|
|
|
Post by grammadee on Feb 29, 2024 4:07:23 GMT
Definitely yes, but I do give grace to those that appear to be visual learners. I agree. Or auditory learners who need to hear the directions. I would say "understanding" and following directions is a life skill.
No one. I am just finding that the longer I teach, the harder it is to get kids to read and follow directions.
I think it is a symptom of growing up in a world where everything can be "paused and/or played back". Doesn't seem important to them to listen or read carefully the first time. At the same time there are literally thousands of waves of distractions breaking against their senses, so they sometimes have to struggle to remember what they DO get out of the instructions, or rush to "get this done" so they can pay attention to something else.
Don't know if it would work with grade 8's, but with adult students we had employers come in and talk to them about the skills these students would need to work in their businesses.
|
|
used2scrap
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,034
|
Post by used2scrap on Feb 29, 2024 7:19:06 GMT
Absolutely. Just out of curiosity, who is suggesting this is not a life skill? No one. I am just finding that the longer I teach, the harder it is to get kids to read and follow directions. I understand my struggling students, but I am talking middle of the road to advanced students. They do not want to read directions. They just want to do. I think it is a very important skill so especially with 8th graders, I make them follow tutorials. When they ask me how to do something, the first thing I ask is "did you read the directions". When I help, we read the directions out loud. I am trying to figure out a way to get them to practice this skill. When I was in elementary school back in the dark ages of the mid 1980s, we had an unorthodox teacher give an instructional exam. The first instruction was to read through all of the test questions before starting. Then there were some basic questions, then some tasks like go to the library and sign the document on the front wall, go to the cafeteria and do a somersault, and a few more silly things…the final question however told us that the test was not to actually be taken, but was an exercise to see who actually followed the directions from the beginning… The wall size document we all signed in the library bore the later uncovered heading “we do not follow directions” followed by a class full of proud signatures. 😬 Obviously this Gen X method wouldn’t fly today (I believe our teacher actually had permission from the parents, small class of like 15 students). But man that lesson from my 4th grade teacher has stuck for a lifetime! |
|
RedSquirrelUK
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,730
Location: The UK's beautiful West Country
|
Post by RedSquirrelUK on Feb 29, 2024 11:09:57 GMT
Definitely.
We just had a poisoning case where a patient ended up in hospital because medication had been taken incorrectly, having been "checked" by both patient and relative. It was more complicated than that of course (always is) but I can't give the details for confidentiality reasons. The medication was labelled clearly.
|
|
|
|
Post by epeanymous on Feb 29, 2024 12:46:30 GMT
*Stares in professor.*
|
|
|
|
Post by smasonnc on Feb 29, 2024 14:03:16 GMT
Apparently not. Men go through life without reading directions. We have a drawer devoted to screws left over from things DH put together.  I recall around 8th grade we had a teacher who told us repeatedly to always read the directions on the test. Most did not. After repeated reminders, she gave us a test with a pretty solid block of text as instructions, which most people did not read. Embedded in the text was the instruction to write your name at the top and write nothing else, but sit quietly for 15 minutes, and then we would be given permission to leave early. I had a psyche teacher in college who did the same thing. I manage a website for a non-profit. There are links in the weekly newsletter to sign up for things on the website. You click a button, enter your name and email. Job done. We constantly have people either turn up without replying, or who call me to TELL me they want to sign up or to ask questions that are on the website if they just push the button. For the love of all that's holy, read the directions. |
|
