If I had to create a teaching metaphor, I would consider myself to be the maestro of a band or the director of a chorus. As the leader of this band or chorus, I hold the power to creat beautiful music, or to be the one to blame for an ear wrenching awful sounding performance. I hold the power to create something wonderful, yet can also be the downfall.
As the director, I would hold the controlling force as the "glue to hold it all together", but it would be up to band or chorus whether or not they choose to follow my directions or if they would play in their own way or style. Similarly, it is up to students how much of what I teach or say they actually internalize and use for their own understanding. As a teacher, I feel as though I am there to instruct, direct, and guide student learning, but they should have some choice in their learning as well. A chorus can still sing and a band can still play, but without a director their is chaos. In the same way, a student can still learn from their environment but need a stable figure who fosters and supports their learning and understanding. A student should, to a certain degree, have control over their learning experiences.
As a band is comprised of various instruments and a chorus of varying singing tones, a classroom is comprised of various types of students who have different attributes, abilities, and thoughts that they can contribute to the classroom. It is up to the teacher to figure out a way to blend all of these together to make the most positive experience possible for those both in the classroom, and outside the classroom. As a maestro or director selects the piece of music to be played, the teacher is responsible for presenting content material, but finding an approriate "arrangement" for this material.
Speaking in reference to both the teacher and students, both become better in their roles through practice and reinforcement, as a band or chorus does, and as the director of these does. Teachers become better as time goes on and as the develop new understanding for what is and is not effective in the classroom and students become better at their learning through homework and other forms of practice.
2 comments:
Christiana- I really like the chorus idea. It's cool to think about you bringing together the talents and abilities of your kids. You direct and guide, while they are the ones who actually "make music". Your job is to draw out their talents, and then they have the opportunity to use them and to come together in harmony, with each kid playing a role! :)
Christiana--
I especially enjoyed your acknowledgment that students should have some choice in their learning. You have definitely captured the sense that students are different, and that, as teachers, we need to embrace and attend to those differences while still working toward a common goal. I also found the notion of practice intriguing. So often, we forget that classroom routines and norms take time to establish. Just as a band or chorus would have a hard time creating beautiful music the first time they got together, so do students and teachers need practice to get into the groove. :-)
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