"Life is like a piano..."
Imagine, you get the opportunity to listen to your favorite pianist play your favorite piece of music for you. His hands sway gracefully as they sweep across the keyboard with every note.
At times, the volume softens as the music slows down and you can feel the somberness of the measure.
At other times, the volume and speed increases as the song becomes more intense . You close your eyes for a moment to take it all in.
"What you get out of it, depends on how you play it." - Tom Lehrer
Now imagine, a second pianist takes the stage to play the exact same sheet music
but his expression on his face shows boredom and disinterest.
He begins plucking away at the keyboard and hitting the correct notes, but there is no rhythm, flow or dynamics.
As I read the article, "Is the Great American Teacher Dead?" my thoughts turned to the word delivery and what that meant to me. Anyone can stand up in front of a classroom full of students and read presentation slides. Does this make a great teacher? Any student can memorize trivial facts and take an exam to regurgitate information. Is this the definition of our world's education?
It takes a truly great teacher to deliver a message that can and will change the lives of those who are there to learn it. I believe I was truly blessed to have had amazing professors in my life that were not like the teacher described above, but I do fear for many students all around the world experiencing this.
"In my opinion, a little intensity, a pinch of
dynamism,
a little inflection of the voice here and there will
do a lot of good." - John J. Ivers
Below is a valuable list of human universals from researcher Donald Brown that was included in this article by Ivers.
- Special Speech for Special Occasions
- Empathy
- Metaphor
- Poetry/Rhetoric
- Jokes
- Symbolic Speech
- Dance
- Concept of Fairness
As a teacher, we have the privilege to teach our students to be independent, deep thinkers, and intellectuals. How can we encourage these attitudes and behaviors in our students, if we ourselves are not this way. Every lesson plan, every class period is a sacred opportunity to teach not only the proper curriculum, but also the deeper meaning behind all that we do. "Students remember meaning before details," Medina, a recognized expert on the human brain states.
Looking back on my own educational experience, I do not remember specific details or facts that my teachers taught me. I remember the way that they handled the challenges in life that they faced. I remember the way that they graded my assignments and the anxiety that it caused me.
I remember the second chances or after hours tutoring that was offered to me.
I remember the way that they made me feel.
References:
Ivers, John J. (2012) Is the Great American Teacher Dead? Principles to Resurrect Meaningful, Effective, and Consciousness Raising Instruction. Journal of Invitational Theory and Practice, Volume 18.
Medina, J. (2008). Brain rules. Seattle WA: Pear Press
Purkey, W., & Novak, J. (1984). Inviting school success: a self-concept approach to teaching and learning. (2nd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company
