Learning to like learning?

My sister works in a school in South Florida that gets a lot of Title I support. I was talking to her earlier today and she told me that they skipped Read Across America last school year; it conflicted with the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, (opens in a new window) better known as the FCATs. It wouldn’t surprise me if the staff and children were enervated by the rigor — and the impact — of the tests.

Earlier in the week, I visited a lab school at a nearby university, where 3- to 5-year-old children are truly excited about learning in an environment where teachers are equally excited about teaching.

This school is filled with books, and books are linked to art and virtually all activities — even Winnie the hamster has books nearby. Children’s art and writing are displayed on walls everywhere. It’s an exciting place to be. (The excitement is contagious and reminded me of Miss Bindergarten’s (opens in a new window) class.)

I understand that a lab school has a different mission than a public elementary school. But the broader question for me is how to get all kids and teachers excited about learning? How can we intensify the spark that is often ignited in early childhood education not just throughout the primary grades but throughout all the grades?

I don’t know — maybe someone else would like to weigh in — but I do know that it sure doesn’t happen when standardized tests take priority over the pleasure of books.