Teaching the teacher

May 14, 2016

The longer that I am at the 'teaching' game, the more I learn. My teachers? My students.

I have learned that other people learn differently than I do.

I have learned that trying to 'force' learning into a pattern that is comfortable to me will result in struggles and tears -- from both me and from my students.

I have learned that learning happens -- even when I don't notice it. (and that the lessons learned are not always the lessons intended!)

I have learned that 'intelligence' is not the same as 'experience'. The first is a natural state. The latter is gained through time.  That being the case, I have learned to RESPECT my students' even while I seek to guide them with my experience.

I have learned that the best teaching needs to be adaptable, molding itself to the situations that will, invariably, arise when students become enamored of the learning process. Students, it turns out, are often their own best teacher.

I have learned that if I TRUST the process, my students LEARN and the learning is joyous.

There are lessons which are harder to learn -- sometimes I think it is because I, myself, am still struggling with those lessons: Self-discipline in doing those daily tasks that can seem so arduous when the sun shines after the rain. Sometimes I gather up my students and we run out into that sun and revel in the joy of simply being.

And then, we return, refreshed and emboldened to begin again.

And again.

And again.

Yes. There are times when I have to 're-learn' lessons. And in learning that about myself, I am taught to be more patient with my students experiencing the same process. Learning does not end.  And some lessons need to be repeated.  And that, as they say, is life.