When I began teaching, the ideals of what I wanted to accomplish as an educator were not just rose-tinted, they were ruby red, re:see previous post, “inspirational montage” . . . and then I walked into the classroom and was confronted by the reality that I was no more prepared to be a teacher as my students were to be, well, students. To that end, I have compiled a short list . . . commandments . . . philosophies . . . I have as an educator.
- Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes come with the job. Great educators aren’t born, they are created in the flames of Mordor. Every mistake you make as an educator is an opportunity to learn and grow.
- Don’t be afraid to admit when you don’t know something. Just because we are super-human, almighty educators, doesn’t mean that we possess all the knowledge in the heavens and on earth, Horatio. That’s what Google is for.
- Don’t be afraid of being the “mean” teacher. Set clear and firm boundaries and expectations for your students. If you are so busy dealing with classroom management, you will have no time to teach. Sometimes Miss Nelson just isn’t enough and you need to pull a Viola Swamp.
- Don’t be afraid to assign homework. Practice makes perfect, or so the saying goes. Just because you gave a lecture and taught a lesson in long division, that doesn’t mean that your students will remember all your pearly words of wisdom.
- Teach students to be critical, independent, well-reasoned thinkers possessing common sense. Critical analysis is essential for student success. Students need to be able to generate evidence based claims and see through unsupported arguments. These are skills that will serve them both in school . . . in life . . . in Presidential elections.
- Use technology with a purpose. Just like when writing a paper you wouldn’t pepper your paper with out-of-context examples. When teaching, you shouldn’t show a video just for the sake of showing a video. Except for cats riding on robot vacuum cleaners. . . those are always relevant.
- Encourage and utilize open dialogue, project based learning, video, and other forms of multi-media, music, art, and movement to further the learning process. Not every student learns through note-taking and lectures. Learning should be messy, creative, and fun. As Albert Einstein said: "That is the way to learn the most, that when you are doing something with such enjoyment that you don't notice that the time passes." Worksheets and notes do not educate students. Relevant, enjoyable interaction with the material, instructor, and classmates goes a long way to ensuring students are able to retain what they are learning.
- Assess, assess, assess. Assessment ensures learning is taking place. It doesn’t need to be complicated. Assessment can be as simple as well-designed rubrics, AVID/Cornell Notes, close reading practices, as well as, group discussion, project based learning, independent and peer assessment. Stop, drop, and check understanding.
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