By Derrick Brown (Email) (follow on Twitter @dbrowndbrown)
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- Reach - THEN teach. Three dimensions of
knowledge are necessary in order to effectively teach students, and not just subjects:
knowledge of self, knowledge of others, and content knowledge - in that
order.
- Build healthy relationships. Solid, healthy teacher-student
relationships (and relationships between colleagues) should progress
through four stages - acceptance, affirmation, accountability, and
authority - in that order.
- To teach is to learn twice. The best
teachers are lifelong learners, which makes them students even in their
own classes. They are the foremost student in their class.
- Use skills of pedagogy and andragogy. We teach young people with childlike levels of maturity who have
adult levels of exposure, expectations, and attitude. Be mindful of that,
and discern when to teach, train, correct, guide, confront, etc.
- Speak the language of your subject. Mastering language is the key to mastering any and all content, so
developing literacy is a key component of any sound teaching approach. In Rethinking The Future, Alvin
Toffler states that "… The illiterate of the 21st century will not be
those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and
relearn."
- Ignorance can be educated if it can be tolerated. Arrogance can neither be tolerated nor propagated. Both traits are
clearly separated by self-awareness - an ignorant man knows that he does
not know; an arrogant man does not.
- Awareness may be more important to learning than knowledge. Why, oh why can't Johnny read? Probably because the brother's name
is Khalid …
Please share your thoughts on these "Big Ideas" and best practices by leaving comments below. Email us or follow us on Twitter @dbrowndbrown to submit your own "Big Ideas" and best practices!
