Joyce Lee on mon 29 oct 01
Ivor asks Doug:
"what are your feelings about teaching being instinctive? Do you think =
it is instinctive? And if it is, are we pre-programmed to respond to the =
feedback from our students?=20
--------------------------------------------------------
Years ago when California was on the cutting edge of Special Education =
(as we referred to all classes for the academically challenged ) while =
working toward the required Masters and credential, I spent a couple of =
full semesters learning to diagnose learning disabilities .... using =
myself and other classmates as guinea pigs. We then often extrapolated =
our new learning into guides for being a good teacher ... always =
contemplating whether or not WE had a chance of becoming acceptable =
teachers. A few of us left the program during this process, discovering =
that we were not equipped for such teaching ... maybe not for any =
teaching. We did conclude in our rather illegitimate and very informal =
research that there are instinctive teachers .... just as most of us on =
this list are aware that some of us are instinctive potters or artists. =
I was grateful to be one of the fortunate deemed to be an instinctive =
teacher, and so continued with that as well as many other educational =
courses of study ...... however, as many of you are aware, I am most =
decidedly not an instinctive potter/artist....... not even an =
instinctive craftsperson.
Later, teaching student teachers, and evaluating hundreds of teachers =
in their classrooms from every level of public education, I found the =
instinctive teacher a joy to observe.... didn't seem to matter much =
where they began the lesson nor how closely they followed whatever =
lesson plan they handed me as I entered. Most were open, warm, =
welcoming, confident, and seemed happy to be exactly where they were, =
doing what they were doing at the moment.... Did they make mistakes? Of =
course. Did they accept their errors with humor and self-forgiveness? =
Of course. They didn't have much else in common beyond this overall =
attitude, however, AND an eagerness to learn MORE, to gain further =
skills in a profession where they were already among the best. I think =
it was a University of Florida long-term study that concluded that a =
good teacher is a good teacher is a good teacher ..... doesn't seem to =
matter much what process they use or what personal traits they might =
possess. Some are sloppy; others are extremely organized. I made a =
delivery to an elementary teacher just yesterday, Sunday ..... she'd =
spent most of Saturday also preparing for the coming week .... her =
classroom could have served as a role model for perfection in planning =
... she's been a highly praised teacher for 15 years! Still in there =
pitching. I knew others who seem to slapdash plans together 30 minutes =
after school daily .... including all related preparation during that =
short period..... did outstanding jobs. Students liked the class and =
learned all that was required plus a great deal more. My private =
objective for those teachers was to leave them alone, get out of their =
way and let them work in peace; just let them know I was available if =
help was needed or wanted.... which it usually was not.... and keep my =
eyes closed to their so-called "unprofessional" peccadilloes.
BUT the encouraging aspect of this experience ..... for me, as a =
potter.... is that some teachers who were NOT instinctive teachers...... =
who were fearful, anxious, and insecure.... who felt "stuck" because =
they believed that had no other profession to replace teaching, needed =
the money and benefits .... who were miserable as soon as they entered =
the classroom and remained so until they exited... who had minimal =
self-esteem and a self-respect that was being eroded daily .... that IF =
we were able to begin working=20
with them in a conscious, objective-oriented, caring program..... that =
these rather scorned teachers could, surprise! ....... could become =
better than adequate teachers ...... and a few even were inspired to =
become Very Fine teachers, though l not instinctive, of course...... but =
still very fine, indeed.=20
A book could be written about this very important and personal growth =
process between the evaluator and the inept teacher .... usually took a =
few years to completion .... and the process only worked with a few. =
Although I did work with two teachers where we experienced incredible =
... almost shocking.... success within one year. Got them started and =
away they went ...... still don't know exactly what worked ..... but =
hooray for us all ... teacher, parents, students.... most especially =
hooray for the students.
That's my hope for me as a potter ...... as a craftsperson ...... nature =
deprived me of the instinct, but gifted me with the desire ... it's a =
struggle... and I'm obviously not going to be a One Year Wonder ..... =
but I know what paths to take to get there .... and am enjoying every =
step ..... well, some I'm enjoying with hindsight, though maybe not at =
the moment .... but what a lovely addition to my Youth of Old Age.
Joyce
In the Mojave envying Jeanne in "wet, rainy Sitka by the Sea in Alaska" =
..... one of my several favorite places in the world..... when the tour =
ships are not in port, that is.... and when it isn't dark 22/7.... Sitka =
and Nome..... feel at home in both places ......
Karin Hurt on mon 29 oct 01
What about teachers who have a passion for whatever subject they are
teaching, do they need the instinct for teaching or does passion carry them
over that in their willingness to share their passion? Those are some of the
best teachers I have had.
Karin
putting in my two cents worth
Joyce Lee on mon 29 oct 01
Karin asked:
"What about teachers who have a passion for whatever subject they are
teaching, do they need the instinct for teaching or does passion carry =
them
over that in their willingness to share their passion? Those are some of =
the
best teachers I have had."
---------------------------------------------------------
I probably muddled my point, Karin and others who have posted, but I =
wanted to say that there are "instinctive" teachers and "inept" =
teachers........ and that the inept can, with work, develop into Very =
Fine teachers. (To me, in this case, instinctive means the same as =
"talented." )=20
Of course, a teacher who is passionate about her subject matter has the =
potential for being the most exciting teacher of all ......... if she =
knows how to communicate that passion AS WELL AS the information that =
her students need to have. Some teachers have that awareness naturally =
..... others must struggle to learn it ... and some just need a little =
exposure as to "how" it's done in order to become great teachers.... =
they weren't born with it.... but do "get" it.
Most of us have known science teachers, for a too common example, who =
absolutely were enamored with their field .... were absolutely consumed =
with love of and belief in the importance of science ..... kept up with =
changes, read every journal available .... were dynamite in the faculty =
room full of exciting information which they shared willingly ...... =
but who somehow didn't connect with the fact that their "field" was =
teaching. Their classrooms were a disaster. Students sensed the =
excitement, wanted to learn, diligently took notes etc .... but hadn't a =
whit of an idea about what was being taught. The teacher didn't know =
how to teach..... had no instinct for it either. In two cases, they =
left the classroom and went to work elsewhere. Were deliriously happy =
that they had "made the move...... finally." One in particular .... =
whom I see occasionally ..... still wears a huge grin when he talks =
about "leaving the classroom" and "loving" his new job...... still seems =
new after 15 years... he's still full of excitement for the subject..... =
and no longer needs to struggle to teach.
Joyce
In the Mojave ...... no expert in this area; just trying to clear up my =
own lack of communication skills......
Julie Shanks on mon 29 oct 01
what a touching story. i am a teacher and believe that it was what i was
meant to do. i am also a potter, and altho i have been plugging away at it,
i do not believe i have the instinct in the same way. your story rings
true...thank you.
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