One day when I led teacher interns on a walk through classrooms, we stopped in a room where the students sat in rows while the history teacher sat on a tall stool at the front, talking. This teacher-talking approach went against all principles they had been learning in their courses about culturally responsive constructivist project-based learning. We knew we had to stay at least a few minutes anyway– not to be rude.
Soon, we realized that the the teacher was telling a story about specific characters at a dramatic point in history. He offered their different points of view. The kids were rapt, all eyes on him, no one doing anything else, even from the far back of the room. We ended up staying until the end of the story which took another 20 minutes.
We looked at how storytelling has been the way that generations have passed down wisdom and experience forever. If you are a good storyteller, why would you waste a gift that has informed humans through the ages?
Since then, I have opened my eyes and mind to be able to see each particular teacher’s expertise in conveying learning. The possibilities of what can work for kids have turned out to be beautiful and endless.
Even in our current context of standards-driven education and standardized evaluations, a teacher’s personality, culture and gift has a chance to shine. It may take nerve. It may take encouragement. It likely takes support to figure out how to integrate your gifts with the indicators of best practice required by your district.
Perhaps this is what we need to do to keep our teachers in the profession. I don’t know how anyone keeps doing anything challenging for long without even a small possibility to shine.
We All Shine On (John Lennon)
Thanks Margie for your light shining on…