Collectively, the class I am with runs a blog. I wanted to post this week's prompt as well as my response:
In the introduction and chapter one, Palmer makes the case for teaching
being a spiritual endeavor, and that "To educate is to guide students on
an inner journey toward more truthful ways of seeing and being in the
world" (p. 6).
Does this resonate with you? In what ways?
He also makes the case for teaching beyond technique and honoring
subjectivity. As novice teachers, you are probably depending on
techniques and strategies. Have you experienced some times when you
have reached beyond this? Describe those, and how that felt different
than implementing a particular technique.
Ever since I started on the path to becoming a teacher, I knew that it
was more than reciting Shakespeare and reading lessons out of a grammar
book. I think that, with English especially, students benefit heavily
from each other and the teacher, not just for a grade, but to learn with
how to handle and maintain themselves outside of school. In classes, we
talk about culture, characters who struggle to find a place for
themselves in the world, and, very often, talk about topics that are not
discussed as much as it should. Teachers create tolerance and model it
as well.
I agree with Joey's statement [fellow student teacher]: “High school seems to be
more about creating a future generation gifted with a tool box hefty
enough to come in handy when they need to look at the world in different
angles.” Often times, we talk about our teacher toolbox and all the
lessons and resources we have accumulated over time that created what
was once a tool box and later into a tool shed. What we do (or do not
do) with these tools is up to us. I think that by modeling and showing
students how to use some of these tools themselves, it not only makes
them successful and ready learners in the classroom, but ready and
capable persons in general.
From what we read so far, I agree with
Palmer when he claims that to be successful teachers we must sometimes
expose our inner lives: to show our passion for our craft. None of us
chose English (at least I hope not) because it was “easy” and “not much
work” or “it is all up for interpretation anyway so I will not have a
hard time”. I know that I chose English because it was something I
enjoyed and I wanted an opportunity to share something I love and teach
it to others. Passion: I think that is a good first step into the inner
journey—what are you passionate about?
Right now, I do model a lot
of the teaching methods others have used. However, I did notice that I
like to walk around the class more than teachers I have seen do, and I
like to ask kids, often, to relate themselves to the book they are
reading “raise your hand if you have been to this place. Have any of you
done this.”… I have always been under the impression that we learn best
from a multitude pf people, especially those close in age, so I do like
for students to learn from one another as well as myself.
I am
starting to notice things too: who is quiet, who is a hard worker, who
works alone even in a group, etc. I am developing habits to help
alleviate some things that could be hazardous to students’ learning or
to what Palmer states. We are still works in progress, but we are using
our craft and modeling those around us within ourselves to create
something entirely unique to us. And that---I think that is good for
where I am presently.
