"Something that hasn’t changed in teaching is that great teachers can make a big difference.' I have been musing on the education system and contemplating my role in it as a teacher. I mean, I have thought about it quite a bit of course (#mastersofteaching). Hard to believe I’m going into my fifth year of primary school teaching and seventh year of singing teaching in 2018. In this post I want to share what I believe are the most important elements of teaching - or training, or leading, as they are very similar roles which many of us engage in at some stage of our lives. Relationships [Connection] Building relationships - with students, staff, parents - is integral to being the best teacher you can be. My sister is also a teacher. Chatting the other day, she shook her head with disbelief of a teacher she knew who doesn’t make any extra time to just chat with their students or get to know them. Consequently my sister had noticed that the students didn’t really seem to connect with the teacher. We are social beings. If we have a connection with someone, whatever that may be, we are more likely to be interested in them, listening to them, sharing with them and learning from them. Though it can happen effortlessly with people you naturally enjoy being around, sometimes you really have to work at this as a teacher. You know what I’m talking about! That particular student who is disengaged needs a strong relationship with their teacher in order to cajole them towards learning (even when sometimes they don’t want to learn or even be there). I have found that if I take just an extra two minutes in my day to spend some time with that student (or colleague, parent…), I have made time to build the relationship and often positive outcomes emerge. Kindness [Care] There is always a kind way to go about something. A friend, before I was off to school one day, said ‘be kind to your students today’, and it really stuck with me. Just, kindness. I share this with my students: I am here to help you, never to hurt you. I believe that the most compassionate way is the best way. That there is a kind way to give feedback and a brash, hurtful way. Think of the most kind person you know. Why have they come to mind? You have probably noticed that whenever you’re around them, they’re attentive to you, receptive to your mood, wants or needs and even in difficult situations, will make an effort to keep their cool and offer a caring way out. A way to help us live this out in our lives could be to remember that for most of the people we meet, we don’t know their circumstances - the day, week, month, year they have had - and that, especially if they’re doing it tough, we can make a difference just by being kind. Kindness should abound between a student and teacher. Creativity [Open-mindedness] If our dynamic world requires us to be open, flexible and adaptable, then teaching too should have all of these qualities. ‘Critical and Creative’(1) thinkers, as described in the Australian and Victorian Curriculum, is what we want our students to be. If you walked into an Australian classroom today, you would see the many different contexts in which learning happens. Teachers still teach content, but now there’s much more students learning from and working with others, sharing ideas and engaging in self-driven projects. There is discussion, teacher voice, student voice, silent and shared reading and writing time, building, iMovies, coding… you name it. Yet… there is still something missing. I think that’s because the current Education System is still built on a business model. The Education System, designed in the Industrial Age (2), was formed for the purpose of spitting out perfect moulds of compliant citizens who would enter the workforce. As we all know, today’s global workplace is in a constant state of flux, and we are yet to find out what kinds of roles there will be in 5 years, let alone 10 or 20. Creative and critical thinking is paramount for our ever changing jobs and careers. If we don’t continue to change and allow more creativity in the classroom, the young people of today won’t be equipped for the inevitable changes to the workplace and society, which will surely take place in their lifetime. Something that hasn’t changed in teaching is that great teachers can make a big difference (3). So, strong relationships, kindness and creativity: qualities each and every school class should have. Maybe not just schools, but also the many other avenues we learn in: our families, the workplace, community projects and in our everyday interactions. This way, lifelong learning would appeal to so many more people and more curious minds may accelerate towards being the ‘problem solvers’ we need in the world, with connection, strength, care, kindness and optimism.
#students #teachers #learning #growth #creativity #criticalthinking #kindness #relationships #lifelonglearning #education #educationsystem #educationAustralia #Victoriancurriculum #Australiancurriculum #flexibility #modelling #classrooms #Hattie (1) Australian Curriculum - Capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking (2) Factory Model Vs 21st Century Model of Education (3) Visible Learning: Hattie’s Ranking for Effect Sizes
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