As of late, I have found it necessary to take myself to classes designed to help me be a better teacher. I like teaching. I haven't done it for years, but I'm good at it. It's pretty natural for me. What's funny is how the "new" things that they are teaching are really the same old things wrapped up in different jargon.
I have to learn new words to describe things that I was doing 20 years ago. I have learned that children learn better when engaged. Actually, I haven't learned any of those things. I already knew them. I called them different things but beyond the jargon, teaching hasn't really changed. However, the jargon makes it intimidating. All of these people are throwing around words that are not part of the normal person's vocabulary. Then they look at me like I am out of place since I don't know the words. But it's not the words that are important. It's the concept.
It makes me think of God, Jesus, church and church words. I think that lots of people get the concept of God and of Jesus because it's really pretty simple, but they get turned off by all of the church jargon. Propitiation. Very important concept, but can be explained much more simply.
This is just a call to all of us to keep it simple. Show more than tell. Explain in the language of the real people. It's expecially true with kids. Keep it simple. They can understand really complex concepts if you just tell it how it is and don't try to make it difficult.
I am learning a new language. I will learn it just fine. But in a couple of years it will change. I will adapt. Though the words cahnge, good teaching will always remain the same. No matter the norms or standards, all teachers know that the most important part of a classroom is the students.
blessings,
rhonda
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