The "hook"

This may be a rather obvious "bridge" but a hook is used in music just like a hook is used in teaching. Wikipedia describes the hook in music as what you are selling. It makes the song appealing and catches the ear of the listener. The musical hook draws you in and keeps your attention throughout the song. In teaching, a hook is really the same thing. The gifted teachers at my school have been doing staff development on Understanding By Design, by Wiggins and McTighe. They suggest that the first step in planning learning experience is to "hook" the student. They suggest that every lesson should begin with a hook, and the hooks should not be the same every day. These hooks can include pictures, math problems, a question for discussion, something to write about, something to listen to, something watch, and many others. I wrote about this last week when talking about a "light to Walk Toward" in interior design. I think these ideas all relate. There must be something to grab student's attention and to hold it throughout a lesson. If the interest of a student is never grabbed, they are not likely to fully understand the material.