Why does it seem like everytime you get a group of new students you end up with a favorite?Does this damage your ability to teach everyone else fairly? For one thing, we are humans with feelings and so I believe its a bit natural to be "pulled" or to "pull" that special one a little closer to us. I also think we want to have a success story, so we look for that one student that is just soaking it up and try to make sure they succeed.
That may be all fine and dandy but our purpose should be to teach all of them. I was reading Tony Dungy's book and in one of the chapters he quotes his father, his greatest teacher, as saying "all students deserve an A". To me this means that every student deserves your attention and you should try to find a way to help them succeed.
It's too easy to get frustrated with those that don't "get it" right away. I have a new crew in my office as I write this and some are faster than others but I'm determined to give them all a fair shake and challenge myself to be the teacher that actually taught them something and made a difference in their lives.
As a teacher and mentor, every student should be your favorite! I guarantee you each and everyone one of them is special and they deserve the attention.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
The Tough One
Who is the toughest student? Think real hard.... parents know the answer....that's right, your prodigy or child is the toughest student. Why? Because the teachers are too close to the student and too emotional about how the lesson is responded to.
I have two children of my own os I speak from experience here. Now at the ages of 17 and 15, I think I've finally learned how to control my own emotional response to the most challenging yet rewarding students.
In our roles as teachers the "favorite" student should not exist. No such thing as most likely to succeed or the favorite child...it's all life and if we care about our students we will teach them what we know, regardless how difficult it may seem. Everybody matters and as teachers we are here to make sure life continues with as much wisdom as possible. When the teaching gets tough, back away and think about the role we play. Play the role and enjoy it or do yourself a favor and change roles.
Life is way too short!
I have two children of my own os I speak from experience here. Now at the ages of 17 and 15, I think I've finally learned how to control my own emotional response to the most challenging yet rewarding students.
In our roles as teachers the "favorite" student should not exist. No such thing as most likely to succeed or the favorite child...it's all life and if we care about our students we will teach them what we know, regardless how difficult it may seem. Everybody matters and as teachers we are here to make sure life continues with as much wisdom as possible. When the teaching gets tough, back away and think about the role we play. Play the role and enjoy it or do yourself a favor and change roles.
Life is way too short!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
The Basics
Well how many times have you been frustrated after having spent so much time teaching someone something only to find out that they "just don't get it"?
I know we've all heard that not everyone learns the same way and that maybe we need to change the delivery and various similar hints. There are two components to this I would like to discuss that I believe are key to anyone's success as a teacher.
First and most important, in my book, is we must learn to listen! Don't just listen for the question but listen to learn about the person and how their brain works. We give hints about ourselves by the way we speak, the words we use and the way we try to explain things. We can even learn by watching the way someone doesn't ask questions or get involved in discussions. Learning, and hence teaching, is just as much about trust as it is about knowledge. You need to make your audience trust you in order for them to really want to listen and learn from you. Get to know them and let them get to know you....priceless.
The other component to this is making sure you don't get frustrated when the message doesn't seem to be reaching the audience. There could be numerous reasons why, some of which I just mentioned. I was reading a book on how to trade options in the stock market by Wade Cook (yes I've made some dumb decisions too) some 10 years ago and he quoted someone but I can't remember who or what the name of this book is. Anyway, the quote has remained very fresh in my mind and I find it holding true time after time after time. So here it goes, "when the student is ready, the teacher shall appear".
Look, we are in our leadership positions because we have talent and don't forget that you have done something good in order to get to where you are...don't take that away from yourself. If the person(s) you are trying to teach don't want to learn they won't, so don't beat yourself up.
Be proud, be productive, you are the reason this country is so successful!
I know we've all heard that not everyone learns the same way and that maybe we need to change the delivery and various similar hints. There are two components to this I would like to discuss that I believe are key to anyone's success as a teacher.
First and most important, in my book, is we must learn to listen! Don't just listen for the question but listen to learn about the person and how their brain works. We give hints about ourselves by the way we speak, the words we use and the way we try to explain things. We can even learn by watching the way someone doesn't ask questions or get involved in discussions. Learning, and hence teaching, is just as much about trust as it is about knowledge. You need to make your audience trust you in order for them to really want to listen and learn from you. Get to know them and let them get to know you....priceless.
The other component to this is making sure you don't get frustrated when the message doesn't seem to be reaching the audience. There could be numerous reasons why, some of which I just mentioned. I was reading a book on how to trade options in the stock market by Wade Cook (yes I've made some dumb decisions too) some 10 years ago and he quoted someone but I can't remember who or what the name of this book is. Anyway, the quote has remained very fresh in my mind and I find it holding true time after time after time. So here it goes, "when the student is ready, the teacher shall appear".
Look, we are in our leadership positions because we have talent and don't forget that you have done something good in order to get to where you are...don't take that away from yourself. If the person(s) you are trying to teach don't want to learn they won't, so don't beat yourself up.
Be proud, be productive, you are the reason this country is so successful!
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