I had to smile when I read the sentence that, "teaching is unpredictable from hour to hour and minute to minute." This is where the adventure of our vocation comes in as well as exposing our vulnerability. We have to be flexible enough to change directions and create a new path with our students if the timing is not right for learning to occur. This requires exposing our vulnerability as individuals. We need the courage to take risks and change course in order to develop a new idea that will better meet their needs. It requires energy and a sense of connectedness with our students that enables us to be tuned into their needs. The only way that will happen is if we are turned into our own inner lives. And the more passionate you are regarding your vocation the more dedicated you are to adjusting methodology and setting to create a hospitable and conducive environment for learning. This as the chapter states, "continuously puts demands on our soul" but I also see it as exercising and strengthening the soul with the passion for our work as the fuel.
Chapter 7 really spoke to me and reinforced the importance of care for the inner self. As educators we know this is critical but often we can get so busy that that caring for our inner selves can get neglected. I need to remember that we do not carry the whole burden of teaching by ourselves and by encouraging others to become more involved in school life will also encourages them to share their gifts and talents. Building community in this way will help us see the connection with others, ourselves and God that will ultimately be transmitted to our students for them to mimic with each other. It also enables us (as Maxine Greene stated) " to look through others' eyes more than I would have and to imagine being something more than I have come to be". Wow what a wonderful gift teaching gives us!
Blessed be God!
ReplyDeleteAngie,
As I read your reflection, you really made me be in awe. I truly have been touched by what you shared in your reflections but most of all what you reflect as a person. After saying this, when you said, “I need to remember that we do not carry the whole burden of teaching by ourselves and by encouraging others to become more involved in school life”. You will be amazed of how many angels you find out there willing to do it.
Angie, I completely agree with you that we need to take the time in caring for ourselves. I think that in today's high pace world we forget about that. As educators we are always so worried about caring for those around us, but it is so true that if we don't care for ourselves we will not be able to care for someone else to the best of our ability. This I think applies for both our vocation and personal lives.
ReplyDeleteOne of the reasons that I want to teach is because of the unpredictability. I think it is so great that we will never have a day that we know how it will go. We can plan as much as we want, but there will always be the chance of it not going the way we planned and actually turning out better! I loved how you said that our vulnerability really shows when we have to change our direction. Teachers are so great about changing what they thought was a good plan in order for their students to learn. I think that being flexible is a key element in being a great teacher. You seem like you are a great teacher, and I wish I would have had a teacher like you when I was in school.
PS- I am glad that the blogging is working for you =)
Hello Angie,indeed, we need to accept our own vulnarability as teachers. No one is 100% pefect in her/his life. A successful teacher is the one who knows the needs of the students and leads them according to what is more appropriate for their learning ability. Experiences teaches us a lot in this matter. Secondly, I liked your vies on caring for the inner self. We all need to do that in order to be effective teachers in our life.
ReplyDeleteAngie, The vocation to be a teacher is a great gift of God. In the Indian tradition, a teacher is placed with God because it is through a teacher God is revealed to a student. As teachers we can grow continuously because of our ongoing interaction with students. You have rightly pointed out that it is the passion to teach gives us fuel during the dark nights of our soul. At the same time our sense of connectedness with others, God and ourselves strengthens our passion to teach.
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