PEN Mondays - Beyond Memorization

4 min read

You know that moment — the one where you ask a seemingly simple question and your student’s eyes dart to the ceiling like the answer is written in the clouds. Maybe it’s: What’s the capital of Manitoba? or What does x equal? They’ve memorized the answer before, sure. But if you twist the question even a little — ask them to explain why or apply it differently — you might be met with the dreaded shrug. We’ve trained students to be great memorizers, not great thinkers. And yet, when they leave school, no one hands them a multiple-choice quiz about life. Every decision, every challenge they face out there in the big, beautiful, unpredictable world? That’s the real test. And it’s open-book, open-ended, and scored in lived experiences.

The Why Trumps The What

Memorization has its place (multiplication tables, spelling bees, and pub trivia nights). But when our teaching ends at "remember this fact," we’re selling students short. The real magic happens when students start asking why — why is this historical event important? Why does this math strategy work? Why should I care about any of this? Encouraging curiosity isn’t fluff — it’s foundational. A student who understands why the Pythagorean theorem works will have a better shot at solving unfamiliar problems than one who just remembers that a² + b² = c².

When we nudge students past surface-level knowledge and into deeper reasoning, we’re not just building test-takers. We’re building adaptable, thoughtful humans who can learn anything, anywhere. And yes — even your most reluctant student can get there with the right spark.

Ask the Kind of Questions Google Can’t Answer

Let’s be honest: Google can spit out the definition of democracy in 0.47 seconds. So instead, ask: Can democracy exist without disagreement? or What would a truly fair math test look like? Push your students to analyze, compare, hypothesize, and argue. When we challenge them with open-ended questions, we invite them to engage in critical thinking and form opinions they didn’t know they had.

In a future where AI tools and instant information are everywhere, the real skill is knowing what to do with all that data. Teach students to sift through noise, spot bias, build logical arguments, and defend their ideas. You’re not just teaching your subject — you’re shaping independent thinkers who will thrive in college, careers, and conversations over dinner tables.

Real-World Thinking for Real-World Problems

Outside of school, success rarely looks like getting 90% on a bubble sheet. It looks like solving a conflict at work, navigating a financial decision, or understanding a political issue without spiraling into a YouTube rabbit hole. Every day, our students step into a world where critical thinking isn’t extra credit — it’s survival. Helping them learn how to think — not what to think — is the most valuable thing we can do. The world won’t grade them with red pens and rubrics, but it will absolutely demand they use their brains.

So the next time you plan a lesson, ask yourself: Am I helping my students memorize something... or am I helping them understand it? Am I prepping them for the test on Friday, or for the test life is going to throw at them in five years?

Teach for the long game. Teach so they’ll be ready — not for the exam, but for everything else.

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