Transcript The Key to Teaching

The Key to Teaching
A Valuable Teacher Is a Learner Not
an Instructor
The following quotes taken from Bell Hooks,
Teaching to Transgress, best describes what I
want to bring to the classroom as a teacher:
 “It is equally crucial that we learn to enter the classroom
‘whole’ and not as ‘disembodied’ spirits.”
 “To the extent that professors bring this passion, which has
to be fundamentally rooted in a love for ideas we are able
to inspire, the classroom becomes a dynamic place where
transformations in social relations are concretely actualized
and the false dichotomy between the world outside and the
inside world of the academy disappears.”
I think that the emphasis should be on the learner
and that learning comes from natural curiosity.
As well learning is an active process not a passive process. A teacher
has to make real world situations relative to the curriculum.
This follows the theory of constructionist’s such as Piaget, Dewey and
Bruner.
I learn best when I’m able to try it for myself,
hands-on experimenting and through ‘show and
repeat’
What Urban Students Have to Say
About Good Teaching
Make sure students do their work
Control the classroom
Always willing to Help
Vary classroom routine
Explain assignments and content clearly
Take the time to get to know the students and their
circumstances
Characteristics of a Good Teacher
actful-showing sensitivity and skill in dealing with others or
with difficult issues
ncouraging-help with the development of students by showing
support, confidence and hope
pproachable-friendly and easy to talk to
urious-eager to know and learn
armonious-forming a pleasing combination of things
fficient-working productively with no waste of effort
espect-consideration for the feelings or rights of others
Why and when must a teacher be tactful?
 Issues dealing with achievement, race, religion, sex etc.
 Everyone must feel comfortable and included.
 Dealing with student, teachers, management, union and
parents.
Scenario
Homework-watch the news and report on an issue.
Student Y decides to report on the World Trade
Center. Student X puts up his hand to ask a question.
Why do Muslim people want to destroy the U.S.? Are
all Muslim people bad?
•Teachers use your tactful skills
As I slave over the computer preparing
this assignment I show my unfinished
project to the teacher and a family
member.
Looks like your on the right track,
appears to be good. I’m back on path
my confidence rises and I feel great
about what I’m doing.
Encouragement can make a difference in
the finished product. Not all students
work off of support but I’m the type
that needs a boost. Thus, provide
encouragement to all students.
Approachable
 The most important quality is being approachable.
 Intimidation hinders the learning experience.
How does a teacher become approachable:
1. Be interested in the students and the criteria
2. Try to understand issues of concern
3. Smile and be happy
4. Relate to your students.
 I want to learn about my
students requirements and limitations.
 If I can discover how each student learns
best I will have accomplished one goal for
that year.
 A good teacher knows about their students
circumstances.
 I want each year to be a new experience for
myself and for my students by creating new
and exciting ways to learn.
Harmonious
 Creating a workable and peaceful environment for student and teacher.
 A classroom must be free from racism, sexism, distraction and unreasonable
behaviour in order for students to learn.
 The term ‘teacher’s pet’ will never be used in my classroom.
 Every student is unique I would never place one student on top of another with
regards to special treatment. I believe this has underlying effects such as
discouragement.
Efficient
 My grade eight teacher was
disorganized, always behind in
marking and never followed her
outlines.
 There is so much to cover and not a
lot of time. In order for students to
learn the teacher must be efficient
 Children follow in the footsteps of
their leader or people they admire. If
you want your students to be
organized and not waste time then as a
teacher you have to do the same.
Respect
In order to gain respect from the classroom a teacher
must remember to have respect for the students.
Be firm but not overruling!
Share in the decision making a teacher should not be
the supreme dictator of the classroom.
Allowing the students to participate in the teaching
process will increase their involvement in the
classroom. For example, I would like to implement an
idea taken from my host teacher. If students have done
the work properly they act as the teacher and helper
for those students struggling to complete their
assignment.
Affirmation
Power
Purpose
Contribution
Challenge
 Students need reassurance by their teacher that they are significant
in the classroom as well as safe and accepted.
 They want to feel that people listen and care.
 Their interests and perspectives need to be acknowledged and acted
upon.
•Students feel the need to contribute to their world.
•They want to know they made a difference by bringing a
unique and valuable perspective.
•There feeling of connection is reinstated through their
work and goals.
•I would like to implement an idea from my grade four
classroom to allow my students to feel like they are
contributing to their world.
•In our classroom, we sponsored a little girl from a foreign
country. The students contribution involved writing letters,
sending pictures and helping to provide monetary
assistance at our convenience.
Let us recall that each student is a diverse individual.
Thus, in order to make learning compelling for students
their work needs to compliment their ability.
This is not an easy task, but it is possible with efficient and
tactful characteristics.
a. What they learn is
useful
In order to feel
powerful
students need
to believe that:
b. Their choices
contribute to their
success
c. The support for
their journey
exists in the
classroom
My favorite word when I was
young was WHY???
Did you know the word Why
can be applied to anything
A mother’s favorite including my own:
But why do I have to go to school?????
The reason children ask this question is because they do
not know their purpose as a student.
In order for school to be significant to the child they must feel that
there is a reason they are there.
As a good teacher I would ensure school reflects the students and the
world which they must confront.
Remember When?
 You had to go to the bathroom and you weren’t
allowed.
 You had so much homework you couldn’t enjoy
being a kid.
 Your teacher wanted to be there less than you did.
 You just couldn’t understand!
 You got a C when you thought you deserved an A
 Going to school was worse than the dentist
•Education is the most important tool for a person to
acquire. I have had many teachers throughout my life
that fail to be enthusiastic and caring. Lack in
appropriate knowledge in the subject being taught.
Send out a vibe that they hate their job and
sometimes even the kids. I agree there are difficult
students in a classroom and sometimes people have
a bad day-I’ve had many-But I do not believe that
teachers who do not show interest in the students
should be in the classroom. Students feed off the
energy present in their life. Negative energy
produces negative outcomes. I want to replace a
negative energy and that is why I want to be a
teacher.
Looking over time throughout elementary, highschool and even
university I can remember my favorite teachers.
But what will always haunt me is the horrible class year.
The time I went home crying to my parents because my teacher
was a big mean awful monster.
In my experience, a good teacher wants to be a good teacher
When I can save a classroom of students from hating school
because of their teacher then I will have reached my first goal.
1. Develop the patience required for on-going chatter.
2. Downplay my perfectionist attitude.
3. Determine how to incorporate vast culture differences in
order to avoid discrimination.
4. Learn management techniques.
Modernity
Remain up to date:
•Technology is the future
Remain openminded
•Remain CALM,
COLLECTIVE and
COOL
•Visual learners= screen
babies
Take time to enjoy life
minimize frustration
•Continue to learn with my
students.