mel jacobson on tue 25 sep 01
a great teacher is one that finds, discovers the learning
style of each and every one of their students....and points
learning to that style.
a bad teacher is one that has one style, and makes all
bend to that style.
i am very concerned how people learn, and try
as best i can to adapt my style to each student.
one must:
demonstrate
tell stories
explain how
show how
diagram how
have good students demonstrate
do physics
draw pictures
tell more stories
for example:
charles pearce, the calligrapher had taken three
courses in pots while living in england....he could not throw.
i told him...` i can teach you to throw in 15 minutes`...he said
`prove it`.
well, i decided that he was a concrete sequential learner...very
bright. i sat at the wheel, and explained throwing as a physics
problem. fulcrum, energy, force. did a drawing. did a demo...
and then said. `get on the wheel`.
he threw a pot the first time.
he was delighted...beamed. no one had ever gotten into
his head before.....explained how to do it. they just demo'ed
and said...`here, have at it`. that way of teaching works for
about 20 percent of the folks that take clay. the 80 percent
do not get it.
so:
demo
tell stories
do physics
get your hands on theirs
push them with your knee
explain
do drawings
try anything...but, don't do it one way.
play music
have it quiet
have colors
have no colors
use spot lights
have dark corners
vary the environment
each will find a place.
never let students predict what you are
going to do or say....keep them thinking.
for example:
`ok, ok, simmer down.` and say that twenty times an hour.
they never hear it.
dramatic impact is a key to teaching.
boredom is the death of learning.
and, of course the key to all learning is trust.
abuse trust and all learning stops.
mel
it is funny, but in six years of college i never heard
once that trust is the key to learning. hmm, someone
screwed up...in fact the entire faculty did. they all thought
that curriculum was the ruling factor...in my opinion, it is
the least important thing. the teacher, trust and a bit of
discipline with respect is how people learn. passion for
the subject is in there someplace.
great people, with passion and caring is what we
are all looking for. once in awhile we find one.
then our life changes forever.
it is like:
dogs in pick up trucks.
my dear friend keith gunderson wrote a story:
if you see a dog in a pick up truck and understand
the theory, you can never go past a truck with a dog
in it and not say....`hey, there's one`.
even if you don't see one, you might think...`maybe it is a
tiny dog, and i cannot see it...it could be a wiener dog`.
once you start spotting dogs in pickup trucks your life changes
forever....each truck is a potential dog carrier.
i saw the ultimate dog in truck...a big truck in billings, montana
last week...full of tires....on the top of the tires was a big old
black dog. happy as can be. nice.
it made my day. i am a very good dog in truck spotter. it is
important to me. dogs in trucks are happy dogs. people that
spot dogs in trucks are very happy people. changes your life...
gives one a purpose.
now, if you have read this, you will always be a dog in truck spotter.
your life has just changed for the better.
From:
Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
web site: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
Susan Edwards on tue 25 sep 01
Thank you, Mel,
This was very good.
( and you are right, trust is essential, and no one ever considers it)
Thank you,
Susan
>From: mel jacobson
good teachers (long story)
>Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2001 10:47:17 -0500
>
>a great teacher is one that finds, discovers the learning style of each and
>every one of their students....and points learning to that style.
>
>a bad teacher is one that has one style, and makes all bend to that style.
.
>now, if you have read this, you will always be a dog in truck spotter. your
>life has just changed for the better.
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
Michele Jurist on tue 25 sep 01
Mel, that was really beautiful.
Michele
----- Original Message -----
From: "mel jacobson"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2001 8:47 AM
Subject: good teachers (long story)
> a great teacher is one that finds, discovers the learning
> style of each and every one of their students....and points
> learning to that style.
>
> a bad teacher is one that has one style, and makes all
> bend to that style.
>
> i am very concerned how people learn, and try
> as best i can to adapt my style to each student.
>
> one must:
> demonstrate
> tell stories
> explain how
> show how
> diagram how
> have good students demonstrate
> do physics
> draw pictures
> tell more stories
>
> for example:
> charles pearce, the calligrapher had taken three
> courses in pots while living in england....he could not throw.
>
> i told him...` i can teach you to throw in 15 minutes`...he said
> `prove it`.
>
> well, i decided that he was a concrete sequential learner...very
> bright. i sat at the wheel, and explained throwing as a physics
> problem. fulcrum, energy, force. did a drawing. did a demo...
> and then said. `get on the wheel`.
> he threw a pot the first time.
> he was delighted...beamed. no one had ever gotten into
> his head before.....explained how to do it. they just demo'ed
> and said...`here, have at it`. that way of teaching works for
> about 20 percent of the folks that take clay. the 80 percent
> do not get it.
>
> so:
> demo
> tell stories
> do physics
> get your hands on theirs
> push them with your knee
> explain
> do drawings
> try anything...but, don't do it one way.
>
> play music
> have it quiet
> have colors
> have no colors
> use spot lights
> have dark corners
> vary the environment
> each will find a place.
>
> never let students predict what you are
> going to do or say....keep them thinking.
>
> for example:
> `ok, ok, simmer down.` and say that twenty times an hour.
> they never hear it.
>
> dramatic impact is a key to teaching.
> boredom is the death of learning.
>
> and, of course the key to all learning is trust.
> abuse trust and all learning stops.
> mel
> it is funny, but in six years of college i never heard
> once that trust is the key to learning. hmm, someone
> screwed up...in fact the entire faculty did. they all thought
> that curriculum was the ruling factor...in my opinion, it is
> the least important thing. the teacher, trust and a bit of
> discipline with respect is how people learn. passion for
> the subject is in there someplace.
>
> great people, with passion and caring is what we
> are all looking for. once in awhile we find one.
> then our life changes forever.
>
> it is like:
>
> dogs in pick up trucks.
> my dear friend keith gunderson wrote a story:
>
> if you see a dog in a pick up truck and understand
> the theory, you can never go past a truck with a dog
> in it and not say....`hey, there's one`.
> even if you don't see one, you might think...`maybe it is a
> tiny dog, and i cannot see it...it could be a wiener dog`.
> once you start spotting dogs in pickup trucks your life changes
> forever....each truck is a potential dog carrier.
>
> i saw the ultimate dog in truck...a big truck in billings, montana
> last week...full of tires....on the top of the tires was a big old
> black dog. happy as can be. nice.
> it made my day. i am a very good dog in truck spotter. it is
> important to me. dogs in trucks are happy dogs. people that
> spot dogs in trucks are very happy people. changes your life...
> gives one a purpose.
> now, if you have read this, you will always be a dog in truck spotter.
> your life has just changed for the better.
>
>
>
>
> From:
> Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
> web site: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
Mike Gordon on tue 25 sep 01
Mel,
Just had to reply to this one, being a hs teacher for the last
26yrs.teaching ceramics. All the things you said are true, had a chuckle
about the curiculum thing, teaching in California, the powers that be
have all sorts of guides ( rules ). I still teach the same way, making
pots. Learn to handle clay, learn to make it do what youi want it to
,instead of what it wants to do.Classes are always full, and a waiting
list. Still have a truck 1967 Toyota Stout, one of the first yrs. they
imported them. Had a beautiful Doberman, let him ride in the back,
chained in of course, or he'd of jumped out. Used to jump from side to
side barking at everything, rocking the truck from side to side too.Well
one time, I'm going down the freeway, dog in the back, jumping from side
to side, barking, when we pass a biker..... dog is still barking but
only on his side. Well the biker was a dog lover for sure, he stands
with one foot on the seat, the other leg up in back going 60 mph down
the freeway, what a site! Mike Gordon
claybair on wed 26 sep 01
Mel,
Your postings are usually gems. For me, this one is one of the best! I wish
all educators had to teach and/or administer by it.
As a parent/Headstart teacher/volunteer/school board director I fought a
losing battle trying to get educators to teach as you did and still do. I
noticed that the teachers that taught as you did were a threat to those who
were stuck in their rigid format.
School administrators often come up with weird solutions ... like lets spend
$3 million on an educational computer program....they did in a former
district of mine and 4 years later still have the lowest stats in the
county.
Solutions to low statistics need not cost a school district millions....
solutions can be very simple. Yours is possibly the best!
Thanks,
Gayle Bair
Bainbridge Island, WA
http://claybair.com
Mel wrote>>
a great teacher is one that finds, discovers the learning
style of each and every one of their students....and points
learning to that style.
a bad teacher is one that has one style, and makes all
bend to that style.
i am very concerned how people learn, and try
as best i can to adapt my style to each student.
one must:
demonstrate
tell stories
explain how
show how
diagram how
have good students demonstrate
do physics
draw pictures
tell more stories
for example:
charles pearce, the calligrapher had taken three
courses in pots while living in england....he could not throw.
i told him...` i can teach you to throw in 15 minutes`...he said
`prove it`.
well, i decided that he was a concrete sequential learner...very
bright. i sat at the wheel, and explained throwing as a physics
problem. fulcrum, energy, force. did a drawing. did a demo...
and then said. `get on the wheel`.
he threw a pot the first time.
he was delighted...beamed. no one had ever gotten into
his head before.....explained how to do it. they just demo'ed
and said...`here, have at it`. that way of teaching works for
about 20 percent of the folks that take clay. the 80 percent
do not get it.
so:
demo
tell stories
do physics
get your hands on theirs
push them with your knee
explain
do drawings
try anything...but, don't do it one way.
play music
have it quiet
have colors
have no colors
use spot lights
have dark corners
vary the environment
each will find a place.
never let students predict what you are
going to do or say....keep them thinking.
for example:
`ok, ok, simmer down.` and say that twenty times an hour.
they never hear it.
dramatic impact is a key to teaching.
boredom is the death of learning.
and, of course the key to all learning is trust.
abuse trust and all learning stops.
mel
it is funny, but in six years of college i never heard
once that trust is the key to learning. hmm, someone
screwed up...in fact the entire faculty did. they all thought
that curriculum was the ruling factor...in my opinion, it is
the least important thing. the teacher, trust and a bit of
discipline with respect is how people learn. passion for
the subject is in there someplace.
great people, with passion and caring is what we
are all looking for. once in awhile we find one.
then our life changes forever.
it is like:
dogs in pick up trucks.
my dear friend keith gunderson wrote a story:
if you see a dog in a pick up truck and understand
the theory, you can never go past a truck with a dog
in it and not say....`hey, there's one`.
even if you don't see one, you might think...`maybe it is a
tiny dog, and i cannot see it...it could be a wiener dog`.
once you start spotting dogs in pickup trucks your life changes
forever....each truck is a potential dog carrier.
i saw the ultimate dog in truck...a big truck in billings, montana
last week...full of tires....on the top of the tires was a big old
black dog. happy as can be. nice.
it made my day. i am a very good dog in truck spotter. it is
important to me. dogs in trucks are happy dogs. people that
spot dogs in trucks are very happy people. changes your life...
gives one a purpose.
now, if you have read this, you will always be a dog in truck spotter.
your life has just changed for the better.
From:
Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
web site: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
Lee Burningham on wed 26 sep 01
[mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On
" the good teachers that taught as you did were a threat to those teachers
stuck in their rigid format.
solutions can be very simple. Yours is possibly the best!
AMEN from a teacher still trying to find more simple solutions to all those
confounded problems out there.
Lee Burningham
| |
|
