Showing sincere interest in the way we teach

In one of my teacher’s reflections, she spoke about her excitement in her teaching that overcame her illness. From this, I highlighted two points on how she showed sincere interest in her students and that she displayed that interest in the way she teaches. To me, both these points are important as it helps us teachers build our bridge to the students for better learning.

We often participated in many activities for a week with our students. Using the example of our outdoor learning experience, where we have some time in between to sit and talk and interact. I had expected groups of students to gather, talk with each other. What I did not expect were the consistent and persistent groups of students around certain teachers. Of hand I asked the students why this teacher caught and kept their attention, they did not say they like the teacher, but said was because he is “interesting”, was “funny”, and “had cool stuff to share with me.” In another word, the teacher was interested in the students.

In expanding the above point on showing interest and showing in the way we teach, it need to start with a conversation and such conversation must be with and about the class of 40 students we are engaging – with the purpose of “first seeking to understand”. This has to begin by listening, so that we are aware of what they want to learn, explore and understand, which the teacher did through her students’’ feedback and journaling. As a result, the teacher can then use words that are built around the students’ needs and concerns, and the students – as with hearing their own name – will tend to pay more attention and so be more engaged.

In this way, teacher and students talk to each other rather than over or around each other. Ideas, feelings and teaching in both directions can then flow, and such connections will definitely better learners as well as teachers.