I believe that teaching is a great adventure. We come across so many students, and go through new experiences and thus our whole life is changed, in the process we also change the lives of many of our students. Teaching has great impact in our students. In order to have that influence we also need to create that kind of community where in everyone feels at home. I agree with Palmer where he says that “community, or connectedness is the principle behind good teaching, but different teachers with different gifts create community in surprisingly diverse ways, using widely diverse methods,” (Palmer, P. 115).
Understanding the minds and interests of the students are important part of teaching. I have experienced in my own life that I have learnt a lot in life in some subjects and not so in another because some were not very interesting for me. The teacher came to the class regularly gave lectures and went back. There was no interaction of any kind. There was not give and take relationship at all. The community of learning was not created at all. I also remember another teacher who was so friendly with everyone in the class. We had daily sharing, discussion, and lot of interactions. These activities made all of us very comfortable in the class. We all learnt together. Passion for that particular subject really propelled us. I believe that it is very important for all teachers to prepare a space for learning. So that every student enjoys the activity in the class and thus good learning takes place in the school. As good community helps us to become good human beings so also good community atmosphere in the school is an aid in good learning.
Blessed be God!
ReplyDeleteBoth of us were inspired for the same quote. It is so true, isnt it? We are called to create community in diverse ways. We can not be like the teacher you are talking about. God help us to do not do so. I also agree with you that a community atmosphere in the school is an aid for good learning therefore we need to foster it. We need to do our part, dont we?
Teaching IS a great adventure and I appreciate being able to grow strong in the journey with you all! You are right that a teacher's energy can make a classroom and community! Let us all create those communities in our next classrooms.
ReplyDeleteI loved that you said teaching is an adventure! That is something I love most about my job, we get to experience something new everyday and I feel very fortunate about that. I think we have all probably had a time in our lives that we have experienced a teacher who does not care about the class and comes in just to lecture straight out of the book.(Fr. Steve's great impression last week =)) We are all very fortunate though that we have had that experience and can recognize that is not a way we want to teach. We are also all so fortunate to have had the experience of blogging and sharing our thoughts with one another. I know I have really appreciated being able to share my thoughts and have felt so lucky to be able to read all of my classmates thoughts and opinions. I can't believe the last day is tomorrow!
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