Read the following quote from Morris (2015): "Standards. The curriculum of schools is commonly aligned with local, state, and national standards. As a result, you will be teaching content designed to help students learn what state standards specify. You won't always get to teach exactly what you want to teach, when you want to teach it, and how you want to teach it. However, good teachers always find ways to include in the curriculum what they believe is important and developmentally appropriate. Teaching to the standards does not have to be dull and boring; you can make learning interesting and relevant to your students' lives." (p. 357)

Respond to the reading by composing two paragraphs. The first paragraph should describe your personal educational experiences as a student. For example, which types of learning experiences as a student were the most memorable, and which types of learning experiences were least engaging? The second paragraph should be your personal response to the above quote. Do you believe that as an educator in the current standards-driven environment you still have some "creative license"? How have you as an educator created opportunities to create engaging, student-centered learning within a standards-driven environment? If you have no personal experience in doing this, describe your observations of teachers who have demonstrated this connection. Provide an interesting and creative title for your response.