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What is most important?

I was recently reminded of something one of our principals used to say. When teachers were stressed out about all the many things they are required to do, he would always bring it back to the students by asking what is the most important thing your students need from you today?

As we look at the world that our students will graduate into, what are the most important things for us to focus on to help them be successful?
Is it reading, writing, and arithmetic?
Well no one can argue that reading, written communication, and math are still important. But in what context? Do we use math in the same way we used to? How is the math we use impacted by programming, AI, ... How is reading impacted by the Internet, media, bias, lateral reading? How is writing changed by online collaborative tools, multimedia, blogging, etc...?

There are so many ways that our basic skills have changed over the past 30 years.Helping our students access, curate, analyze, summarize, communicate, problem solve, reason,

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