Ten Things Good Teachers Know

Did you have a great teacher somewhere along the way?  I've been blessed with a few.  I've also had some real duds.  I've been thinking about the differences between really good teachers and mediocre ones, and here's one of my lists. (I'll have a longer entry later.)

10. Good teachers know they never leave work - or recognize that work never leaves them. :)

9.  Good teachers aren't afraid of students' questions.

8. A good teacher recognizes that the moment of achievement for a student should far outweigh the times of frustration.

7. Good teachers can patiently repeat and review.

6. Good teachers try to pinpoint and foster the creative strengths of students.

5. Good teachers are willing to say "I don't know;" followed by "I'll try to find out."

4. A good teacher is willing to say "I was wrong.  Here's the correction."

3.  A good teacher has a lively curiosity and is always learning.

2.  Good teachers are passionate about their subjects.

1. Good teachers care about the individuals they teach every single year! 

Talking and Learning

"The wise in heart will be called prudent, and sweetness of the lips increases learning." Proverbs 16:21

I have just a simple thought based on this proverb. How sweet is the speech in your home? Are you encouraging your children? Are you their best cheerleader? Are your words life giving or death dealing? People are intricately woven together - mind, body, and soul. We often acknowledge this in theory but don't apply it practically. If your child's body is sick, you realize that he won't be at peak performance academically, and you wouldn't demand it of him. But what if his spirit is broken? What if his heart is hurt? What if she's afraid? And what if those hurts and bruises are all because of careless and impatient words spoken in the family? All these things can affect the ability to learn (and to enjoy learning). Let me encourage you to begin each day with a prayer to see each of your children through God's eyes - whole people, not just bundles of demands or recalcitrant antagonizers designed to make your life more difficult. Then, speak graciously and take every opportunity to build them up. Not only is this good for their souls, it also enhances their learning potential! And when the time comes for hard lessons (in school and in life) or discipline, the strength they've gained from good words from a prudent parent will go far in helping them meet the challenges.

We Need Old Stories

I've been teaching a class in Greek and Roman literature this year to high school students and have been reminded that human nature has remained pretty constant throughout the generations. While we've made advances in knowledge about the world around us, I'm pretty sure we've lost knowledge about the world within - we no longer know our souls for what they really are.

One of the things that constantly amazes me when I'm looking at the daily news reports is how naive people seem. Even with multiple degrees and years of schooling, many folks miss the simplest truths.

One reality that the Greeks saw that we seem to be unaware of is the concept of hubris, or excessive pride. It's painfully obvious in the plays Oedipus Rex and Antigone that the kings, for all their good intentions, are closed to the counsel of others because they are so sure they have the right perspective. They need to be strong leaders, so they won't consider any change of course. Ultimately, everything they hope to preserve (their good intention) is destroyed because of their pride.

I want my children and my students to read and think about these old stories. They are as current as today's news reports! I pray that they move into adulthood with an accurate and humble view of themselves and an ability to honestly assess situations and people. We need adults who have let go of the magical thinking of childhood, who realize that all the wishing and believing in the world won't make things right. Leadership takes discernment, an ability to make wise choices, a willingness to learn the truth, a cautious approach to making pronouncements, and a determination to persevere in hard times. In a nutshell, it takes humility and hard work. The old stories tell us these things; E-News Tonight can't and won't.

Loving Teaching Writing

I love words. I'm enthralled with the mystery of language - how the particular arrangement of a few sounds can produce ecstasy, puzzlement, laughter, or a life-changing insight. I'm also saddened by the fact that so many people don't realize that their words can produce death - loss of joy, confusion, death of a dream, solitude, despair. Proverbs says that "death and life are in the power of the tongue." (I need to always remember that, especially when interacting with children and young folks. )The power of words is also part of the challenge and joy of writing.

Last week I had the privilege of teaching a mini-writing refresher to a handful of high schoolers, and I was reminded of why I love this so much! Of course, the understood goal was that they would have a stronger grasp of the elements of good composition at the end of it, but the perk was that, along the way, some of them actually began to glimpse the possibility of enjoying the process! It is the coolest thing in the world to watch young men or women discover that ideas and feelings are "at their command", so to speak. Words become something more than air vibrations. It's humbling to be present when a student discovers his or her own voice in writing. For me, it's almost like assisting at the birth of child!

I hope each of you is able to take the time to notice the beauty in the spoken and written word at some point today. This is as important to our well-being as the beauty of the natural world is. If you have young children, find stories or poems that evoke delight and enjoy them with your children. Play word games; laugh at their puns. Learn a new word each week that has delightful sounds. (Beatrix Potter's books are excellent in this regard for little ones!) If they have a foundational love of language, growing into writing should be a delight for them.

Who's Listening?

It's that time of year when a mother's thoughts turn to school. Whether it's buying new lunch boxes for kids going off to school, helping that college student pack the car, or planning homeschool lessons, we want to make sure we are as prepared as possible so that our children will grow in knowledge and wisdom. There are so many externals that demand our attention, though, that sometimes we miss the simple things that really nurture our children's minds and souls.

Did you know that a good conversation is one of the best teaching tools at your disposal? Active listening with appropriate responses that draw out the child actually contribute to his neurological development, not just his self-esteem! Dr. Jane Healy in her book Endangered Minds says, "Conversation builds the executive brain." That is, the working, problem-solving part of the brain that takes in information and makes connections is dependent upon consistent, quality conversation for optimal development. All those seemingly random questions that pepper your day are more important than you realize!

This is obviously true during the early developmental years, but it doesn't become optional once children are in their teens. As you answer questions and make observations in conversation with your teen, you are modeling for them a thinking process, a template for how to "connect the dots" in their world. These moments that aren't connected to "teaching" per-se can have long lasting effects, often more so than well-plannned lessons! As a bonus, you are cementing your relationship with them through your availability to listen and treat them as adults with legitimate thoughts and concerns.

Many families like to have regularly scheduled times for one parent to go out for a time with one child. These times can often be fruitful, and they help build good memories. Our best moments, though, have been those spontaneous ones that come while folding laundry, preparing a meal, or riding in the car. Deep questions are often asked at the most unexpected times, so we need to prepare our hearts and minds to be ready to really focus and listen so that we can pursue those good conversations.

One last thought (hope you're still listening!) Our husbands thrive with this kind of attentiveness from us as well!