( This is a creepy image isn’t it ?)
I love watching good teachers teach. I really do. Really. I do.
I’m taking Calculus III and I think my professor is a bit of a jerk but he’s also a damn good teacher.
He models, makes bad jokes, admonishes and encourages, emphasizes understanding concepts over knowing formulas, and always….always shows the class two to three ways to solve the same problem.
I unconsciously began doing many of the same things in my own classes. Today I found myself drawing an oil rig on the board to illustrate what was going on in a word problem and the kids ate it up. They understood the problem completely and were able to grasp the concept…rather than simply focus on the method.
Professional development and teacher preparation programs should really include a major component that allows all of us newbies ( I’m 4 years in the game and I still consider myself new at this ) to watch the vets so we can learn a thing or two and steal as many pedagogical practices as possible.
So, my loyal readers ( both of you!)…from whom do you steal ?
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