Written by When I was growing up, the education system was based on the passing of knowledge from one being to another. The teacher’s role was to fill students’ cups up with information so that they could get a good job. I think I had a hole in my cup.
New information was not easily attained…. or retained for that matter… still isn’t for me! I had to work long and hard, and I’m fairly confident that if I were to have a psych-ed assessment today, my IEP would be long and hard too. So it goes without saying that school was not my favourite place. I did a victory lap of Grade 13 and managed to limp through three years of university and secure a full time job at a bank. My teachers had done a good job, they had filled my cup (not the Twitter fountain cup) a cup that would allow me to be ‘successful’ and get a good job. That was the goal of my educational journey it seemed.
The thing is, that cup had a hole. I couldn’t rely on my math skills, so I wrote excel spreadsheets to do the forward projections, taxable benefits and amortizations schedules I needed. I couldn’t rely on my writing, editing and revising skills so I looked to technology and my peers to help me with that. I couldn’t rely on my memory so I developed my organization skills so that I could retrieve information at my fingertips. I didn’t have a lot of confidence, so I studied, worked hard, honed my communication skills and never let anyone see me sweat. I compensated a lot. And, nobody knew that “dumb” little girl who couldn’t read or tell time in Grade 3, couldn’t name the provinces and territories of Canada, and failed calculus. I had compensated enough and figured out how to “make it”. I had fulfilled the education system’s goal – to get a good job.
I actually surpassed expectations. I had a FANTASTIC job. I climbed the corporate ladder and broke through the glass ceiling. I was living in Toronto, working only with the executive of the bank, and making a lot of money in my early twenties. I got married to a teacher, and had two beautiful daughters and enrolled our eldest in a great Catholic school in our neighbourhood. That was when things started to change for me.
I worried that our girls would have the same struggles as I had in school. I worked with our eldest trying to ensure that she would be a great reader and mathematician. I told her not to look at the pictures in the book, but to sound out the words. I drilled her with math facts. I was trying to be that perfect mom. Little did I know that what I was doing and the advice I was giving were mistakes. On a side note, I firmly believe that all ‘soon to be parents’ should go to teachers college. But I digress. Yes, things started to change. I wanted to know more about why I struggled and how to help my daughters be better versions of me. I didn’t want them to have to compensate like I did. I wanted them to have all of those skills that made me successful, not by accident but by design. I believed in this so much that I wanted this for all children.
So off to teacher’s college I went. I left the money behind and followed my heart. I certainly didn’t have a great deal of knowledge to fill up my students’ cups… what was I thinking becoming a teacher? Had I just ruined my life? Had I just endangered the success of all my future students? What had I done?
Well it has turned out that making the decision to leave the bank and work with children has been the best decision I ever made. I am confident that it is not the knowledge that I share with my students that will allow them to be successful and secure great jobs, but all of the other skills that I was forced to learn along my educational journey. When they are not understanding the math concept we are working on, I get it, not because of my knowledge, but because I’ve lived the struggle and found a way to survive it and thrive.
There are lots of terms out there for what I developed by accident; grit, resilience, patience, soft skills, communication, collaboration, growth mindset. The list is quite extensive and who would have thought that these are the most important parts of my job today, far more important than filling up a cup with knowledge. The knowledge is already there, thank you Google, Twitter, YouTube etc. (Click on the links above to access some of the resources I have been using in my classroom)
The thing is, that banking job won’t be there for the little ones that I am teaching today. When they complete school they will be entering jobs that haven’t even been thought of today. So how do I help to prepare them for today and for a job that hasn’t even been conceived of yet? I believe the answer is not in transferring my knowledge but in helping them develop all of those skills that I learned by accident.
It is not really how full that cup is, or whether it has holes in it or not. The important part is in getting a drink. How will you quench your students’ thirst? Thanks for reading, and I look forward to your feedback.
Fantastic blog Lisa! So honest and beautifully written:)
Thanks Priti, that is very kind of you.
This is an incredible journey! In it you reflect the mindsets and skills our future leaders will need: a willingness to take risks, risks that don’t have an immediate pay off, but rather help build our future. The ability to rely on others (and technology) to get the job done, and a recognition that the world is changing dramatically, and we have opportunities to shape that future! This is a beautiful story.
Thanks so much Garth!
LISA!!!! You’ve lived it and so you know it and understand it deeply… and now you’ve captured it, shared it with all of us and everything makes more sense. This is essential reading. Thank you for this!
Helping students to an epiphany is fun. Helping students see how they reached that epiphany is even better. Then they believe they can do it again (and then they get thirsty).
ps. I feel like you’re doing something “punny” with Paulo Friere’s “banking” concept
Graham, thank you so much for your feedback! I have to be honest, I googled Paulo Friere. I had heard about the metaphor of filling the cups, but I had NO idea it was termed “banking” model, definitely ‘punny’ The comment at Cohort21 relating to not really thinking what we have to share/publish on a blog is new, significant, worthy, interesting to others etc. resonated with me. I often find myself watching a Ted Talk, listening to a speaker or attending a PD session and thinking – I do that, or I’ve thought of that, or that makes sense…then I realize if I had only acted on those earlier thoughts and considered ‘publishing’ them I’d probably have a whole lot more money than I do now! BUT, who needs money right!?
Lisa,
I love your story! It is very inspiring.
I look forward to diving deeper into the tools you use and how you incorporate these valuable life skills into your classroom on a daily basis.
Your students are so lucky to have you.
Thank you so much Danielle! You are so kind.
Thanks for sharing your story, Lisa. Education is certainly not a ‘one size fits all’ formula, and in empathizing with our students, we can better understand their methods and motivation for learning. I’m sure your students were incredibly grateful to have you listen to them, and work together to figure out helpful strategies!
Thanks Diane, I think figuring out the strategies is the key. As adults we have already figured out what works for us, but our little guys… if we can help them figure it out and figure it out early, I think we will save them a great deal of anxiety, frustration – you name it! Thanks for your feedback, it means a great deal to me.
Wow! Your post made A: Almost shed a tear, B: Want to get to know you so much better, and C: reflect on my own journey as an educator.
Your passion for education and for helping students bridge the gaps in their learning shines through your writing.
Grit is something I always strive to impress upon my students. How are you being successful with this? Are there any tactics or strategies that you like the best?
@ddesvignes Would definitely be interested in your stories about GRIT!
Hi Andrew,
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I’m currently working on a blog post about our school’s journey with grit in response to the feedback I have received on this post. I hope to be sharing it shortly. Actually, it might take me a little longer that I would like as a two day conference, facilitating a Number Talk PD with our k-5 teachers and report cards are getting in my way currently, but I promise it will happen!!! In the meantime I do a lot of work with growth mindset with my little guys. One resource that I have used is by Mary Cay Ricci “Mindsets in the Classroom – Everything Educators Need for School Success”. Stay tuned for more and hopefully we can connect and chat more at our next Face 2 Face. See you soon!
Lisa 🙂
Well done! Just one more reason why I love working with you.
You get it!
I am fortunate and thankful for the fact that my own children have had and will have the opportunity to learn from you.
Thanks for sharing.
Jill,
Thank you so much for your kind words, and I look forward to having another little Abrams in my mix!
I really enjoyed reading your blog! Thanks for sharing
Lisa- I completely understand-as a learner myself, mother, educator and seeker of wisdom. Thank you for sharing yours!
@lmitchell,
I’m finally getting to read this wonderful post and am kicking myself for not quoting you earlier in our process. To reiterate all of the above commenters… what a journey! I believe most of us have become teachers either out of a lack or an abundance of learning experiences. Usually, our unconscious mission in life is to correct the imbalances or perceived “holes” in our own development. Your struggles were real, are real, and will continue to be the difference in why and how your perspective towards learning is an active and reflective one.
I love the resources you’ve included as well. Way to go!