Education reforms are doomed to fail if they don’t get at the underlying reasons students are learning. Stanley Pogrow has found that one hidden barrier to learning is that curriculum and instruction are not presented in engaging or entertaining ways. He describes how he has observed teachers incorporating dramatic scenarios into lessons. These approaches get students excited about creative problem-solving using curriculum content. He urges teacher education programs to offer instruction in the use of drama and schools to give teachers freedom to use these techniques.
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Lamb-SinclairA. (2017, November13). Why teachers need their freedom: Educators must remain engaged and autonomous in order to do their jobs well and avoid burnout. The Atlantic.
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PogrowS. (2008). Teaching content outrageously: How to captivate all students and accelerate learning, Grades 4-12. Jossey Bass.
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PogrowS. (2009). Teaching content outrageously: Instruction in the era of on-demand entertainment. Phi Delta Kappan, 90 (5), 379-383.
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PogrowS. (2026). Developing deep learning in students at risk: Enhancing understanding. Phi Delta Kappan, 107 (5-6), 61-65.
