Inspire Authentic Learning

How do you inspire greatness in your students?

Fail.  Disappoint.  Make Mistakes.

Everyday we find ourselves in that critical moment where the spark of authentic learning potential will either fizzle out or ignite into something that will rage joyfully in the minds of the children we teach.  We are given daily opportunities to affect a change in their lives, but how do we recognize that moment?  How do we prevent ourselves from being the ones who stamp out that flame?  Our focus is often distracted by AYP, NCLB, and state standards, but if we are teaching with passion--if we teach from our souls--those distractions will become non-issues.  It really is as simple as that.  

As teachers it is our purpose and our obligation to fail, disappoint, and make mistakes.  

 

We must fail to stop learning, fail to become complacent, fail to be satisfied with our work.  Our world changes at a rate faster than technology ever thought about, yet so many teachers continue to "do what worked last year" simply because it worked last year.  We should always think, "New moment, new student, new opportunity to grow."  

We must disappoint those who truly believe that "those who can do, and those who can't teach."  We must rise above the naysayers and those who would have us be less than we are and can be.  Disappoint anyone who argues that there isn't an art to extraordinary teaching and that our educational system is being left behind by the rest of the world.  

Finally, me MUST make mistakes.  Make them daily...in front of your students...and let them engage in a solution with you.  It is a necessary tool in learning to struggle through a challenge in order to find authentic learning.  Model that it is okay to make mistakes, to get do-overs, to keep trying and failing and trying again.  In this world of instant gratitude THIS alone is one of the greatest gifts we can give our students.  

We are held to expectations that can, at times, seem overwhelming and unfair.  But if we set expectations for ourselves that surpass those by which our state and district set for us...if we hold ourselves accountable to the much higher standards our children deserve...then there really is nothing to prevent us from inspiring greatness and recognizing that moment to fan the flame of learning.

Tuesday October 2, 2012

Joli Barker