Everyone has a different idea of what the qualities of a really great teacher are. Having observed many different teaching styles as a parent, a perpetual student, and a teacher, I'd like to share my thoughts with you all.
I'll start off by sharing a quote by one of my daughter's favorite teachers, written as part of her holiday wishes to students:
"Although I am an educator, I consider myself a student first and I am amazed by what I learn from each and every one of you."
These words have stayed with me ever since I first read them. It's probably because I truly feel that I've learned far more from children over the past 15 years than I EVER learned from any adult.
The best teachers, to me, are the ones who want to learn and grow WITH us. They love the journey of putting the puzzle pieces of each student, class, and subject together. They help students find their place not only in the classroom, but in the world.
And while each year could be looked at as a puzzle in and of itself, these teachers look more at the puzzle as a lifelong journey. They learn from and with each piece of that very large puzzle. And in their hearts, the journey will never really ever be complete. They will never have all of the answers. But that's okay, because it's the questions that mean the most anyway.
The day we stop asking questions is a very sad day, don't you think?
This question reminds me of a famous quote:
"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."
~William Butler Yeats
Shouldn't the first sparks of learning occur before a child even enters school? Well, they do. Babies and toddlers are naturally inquisitive. The next question is, how do parents spark, and not squash, the curiosity that every child is born with?
Parenting presents us with even more puzzles than teaching does. But as parents, we have an opportunity to learn and grow with our children from the day they are born. We can light the fire of learning just by letting our love and enthusiasm shine through, and by listening and responding to the natural curiosity they possess. Unlike trained teachers, we have no boundaries or time limits when it comes to sharing a love of learning with our children. We can take time to help them ponder the answers to their many questions.
If parents find small ways to light the fire of learning in children before they even start school, just think how much easier it will be for teachers to keep it burning brightly!
The most effective parents and teachers focus on the journey, not the destination. We don't all love to learn in the same way, and that's okay. We also make mistakes. Wouldn't life be boring if we didn't?
There are times when we must let our children put the pieces together themselves, and there are times for us to work together. It's not always easy to decide between the two, but no one ever said being a parent (or a teacher) was easy. And while none of us are perfect by any stretch of the imagination, we have to remember that we're works in progress too. We all make mistakes because, like our children, we are still learning, growing, and putting the pieces of our lives together.
Please share any and all thoughts!
Is there a special teacher who left a lasting impression upon you or your child?
How do you keep the fire of learning burning brightly in your home?
