Palmer's notion that "good teaching cannot be reduced to technique," is very true. You may have the best year of your life teaching and think you have nailed the art of teaching. Then, next year you are constantly treading water just trying to keep yourself from drowning. I have only taught children for three years. During those three years I did not read about teaching methods or pay much attention when I had to attend professional development days. Those things were not for me. I developed my skills as a teacher by listening to my students and reflecting, everyday, on myself as a teacher. This means dismissing our ego. It is not the fault of the student's if they do not learn; it is the fault of the teacher. A lot of people would will argue my last statement, but it is true. As a teacher it is our job for the students to learn. This is where many teachers fail. They are unwilling to change their "technique" to benefit their student's needs.
I did not put my teaching approach into a box which I shelved away inside my brain somewhere and pressed replay every school year. I allowed all my students each year to know me, their teacher. I loved being the odd ball in their life. This interested them and showed them that it is okay to be different and it is okay that others are different. This is how I would build our community of trust. Then I could teach them.
Life is a conglomeration of experiences. As humans we love sharing these experiences. If you are teaching and a student has a relevant experience to share, please let them. Even if it is not relevant, allow them to share and then move on. It will make them feel valued. Just think about experiences in our cohort discussions. We have all shared a personal experience. I know there are times when I feel the urge to share burning inside me and it takes all my will power not to interrupt my classmates and share my thoughts immediately. Students will have the same urges. Let them share them.
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Ken, if you don't mind me asking, I'm curious about something. It seems like you really love teaching, and it seems like you are really good at it. What made you want to leave the classroom? And do you think you could go back again and keep doing it for decades to come?
ReplyDeleteTom: I'm not Ken, but I could go back and keep doing it for years to come.
ReplyDeleteIf you get into something you love, it's possible to stick with it. I love what I do.
Ken: Man, I'll agree. Some professional development opportunities are not for me either.
I think some of that time could be better spent. Maybe with some Env. Ed.
But, I never want to be one of the Rewind and Reuse teachers. Using the same lessons year after year. Some of my least favorite things about my teachers and my colleagues in education are those who refuse to change. Education is a personal interaction. We are emotionally invested, if we are to do well by our goals of creating the conditions to learn. Students must see the teacher as a person not an extension of the textbook...