Courage To Teach

Blog Post #1 Courage To Teach

I gained a great amount of insight through this book, but the two concepts that really stuck with me are learning in community, and teaching in community. Learning in community I found rather interesting. If a teacher states an incorrect fact, or gives a wrong answer, it may go unnoticed. It seems that we find comfort behind closed doors where our colleagues can’t hear what we say, or how we say it. It’s safer that way. Less criticism and less judgment, but along with that comes solitude. If we choose to stay behind our 4 walls, there is no chance for collaboration. No chance for growth. Seeing others teach, other teachers in your building, teachers at different schools, etc, can only help. Weather you choose to take away anything or not, it’s beneficial. You may observe a teacher who you deem fantastic. Great classroom management, or great student involvement, you are able to take away bits and pieces to practice in your own class. You might observe a teacher who you deem terrible. Take note, those strategies don’t seem to work! Either way, some insight is gained. I also love the idea of the clearness committee. A safe place surrounded by colleagues who will actively listen while you unravel your problem. A non-judgmental, non-preachy place to let it all out. To me, this seems like a great technique to find a solution for the issue at hand.

Teaching in community struck a chord with me as well. Engaging your students in the learning process using a variety of techniques. A fellow in our class wrote about her version of the learning community that goes on in her classroom. Taking a trip to the library, having published writers share their experiences and stories, and having publishers come in and share from their perspective. These are all great ways to teach in community. Pulling from a variety of outside resources. I have a feeling teaching in this way is not only more fun for the learners, definitely less traditional, but I can imagine having greater success in your student’s understanding.