The best way for me to describe how a teacher needs to behave when it comes bettering themselves, would be to compare it to a horse with blinders. I think when someone has been teaching for a long time, they will get stuck in their ways and will, in essence, have blinders on which keep them from seeing how society has been progressing.
In reading the article about diversity, it is interesting to note that diversity has now expanded past outward appearance and includes the inner workings of an individual. We need to be aware of how society evolves and changes. This means that we need to adapt our teaching style to what is occurring to be considered inclusive.
In California, teachers have been required to go and obtain an ESL/TESOL certificate because it has become evident that the classroom now has a majority of students that do not have English as their first language. This is one example of what teachers are doing to re-teach themselves.
Basically, we need to continue our learning process as well as furthering the learning process of our students.
4 comments:
Teachers, one might think, more than anybody should be prepared to be life long learners. However, it has been my experience that teachers make the worst students (and I include myself in this indictment.) What do you think it is that makes teachers so resisitent to change and learing and adapting their styles?
I think that it because they find a comfort zone and they want to stick to it. If they go outside it then they run the risk of making a mistake and making a "fool" of themselves in their classroom. I think it is all about image. They have the degree and the classroom so OBVIOUSLY they know what they are talking about and why should they be asked to change or broaden their knowledge? ;-)
Interesting discussion here about teachers and comfort level. Basically it comes down to confidence. If you are confident in your knowledge and experience you will be more relaxed and open to challenges to it. That confidence comes with time and with a few stories of successfully responding to the challenges.
Rachel asks why teachers often make poor students, and while I don't know that this is the case, I can hazard a guess. Some of the theory in education is stultifying to say the least. Or it appears to hang on the latest fad, assessment, service learning, whatever it may be. Teachers sometimes have good reason for resisting such fads; they are quickly replaced by new ones. The trick is to not let that resistance bleed over into other areas where legitimate new learning can occur.
First of all, I'd like to commend the prettiness of your blog. This is the first time I've visited, and I gotta say- nice to look at. I've never taught, but I've definitely had teachers who seemed to be firmly enconsed in a given style. You have to be adaptable, have to be willing to respond to your students in a way that engages them. I'm all about engaging.
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