Learning Versus Knowing

Concerning the daily mini-lesson, this week we focused on the chapter “Learning vs. Knowing” from The Gifted Kids Workbook. We discussed how learning and knowing are not the same thing. True learning is designed to be hard regardless of high ability. 

The activities from this week's lesson are meant to help students internalize how it is ok (and even encouraged!) that they experience challenges and frustration on a frequent basis.

Guiding Quotes:

"Mere exposure and deep understanding are two different things." - Cal Newport

"Beware of unearned wisdom." - Carl Young

Optional journal/discussion questions for the week:


1. What is one of your more difficult subjects or classes? If you don’t have any currently, can you think of some from the past? If you can’t think of an academic area, what about a sport, cooking, art, or riding a bike?

2. What emotions do you have as you imagine working on this activity (from question 1)? What does your mind tell you about yourself or the activity?

3. What type of “self-talk” would be helpful while trying something new or difficult? Do you have examples of beneficial thought processes that help people do hard things?

4. List 10 things that are hard for you (or will be hard for you someday - completing a certain class, running a marathon, writing a research book, graduating early). Commit to learning/achieving at least one of them. 

5. What strategies will you use to tolerate and overcome frustration? How will you create a plan for deep learning?