a few more truth-isms about teaching
There is more than one way to do things.
A lot of people make hard and fast declarations about how to do things. How to be things. How to get things and how to become things.
I will always offer ways for all of that too, but it has to be acknowledged that the lens through which we ourselves look, is quite narrow.
It is arrogant to proclaim THE way when there are many ways.
As a teacher we can model and our students can follow in our footsteps but their feet aren’t the same, their stride isn’t the same, their steps can’t be exactly the same.
My advice?
Offer up all that you have and encourage each student to try things lots of different ways and celebrate their individuality.
No two students are the same.
A huge obvious statement in just a few simple words. We say “Duh!”, but we often lay out plans, curriculums, courses of study, benchmarks, requirements etc. that bottleneck many people through a narrow path.
How might the course of someone’s future turn out if we use more of a wide mouth mason jar approach? Who then takes up the charge?
What a great segue…
At best, you can hope to understand the students’ experience, not the other way around.
This can be tricky, and possibly something over which to debate because after all, a student seeks out the mentor to guide and teach.
Doesn't the student want to model the teacher? Probably.
Can it go the other way? I hope so!
One of lifes great joys is getting to know each person in any relationship. Teaching isn’t a dictatorship where the TEACHER knows all, has achieved all, and has no further growth and learning to be had only to inform the STUDENT.
I believe showing up for the student and giving space for them to share their experience provides the starting point of the relationship that moves forward together.
It is my responsibility to join that student in their experience for that short amount of time and hopefully help the journey.
Don’t expect students to meet you where you are, it’s your job to meet them where they are.
Some things can only be learned after having gained some wisdom and perspective. A teacher is a mentor, a resource, a guide and has great influence. It is an honor to have students seek out my time and advice.
I am the variable, however.
If I am the one that already “knows”, then part of it is meeting each student where they are to learn their journey, their experiences, their wins and losses, and propose some ideas and suggestions, and provide the tools to help them get where they want to go.
