As a teacher, so much time is spent perfecting my craft. There is a daily focus on the most effective and dare I say, an efficient way of helping my students learn. I am hesitant to use the word efficient, because sadly for me, efficient has turned into a word that means “cutting off the fat” or removing extras.
As a teacher, I do want my students to learn quickly. Efficiency is important, but I am learning that sometimes, the inefficiencies are what make the Independent School experience so special! From classes outside on a sunny day to half-days declared by a Headmaster, these are all inefficient ways of getting my students to learn, yet they learn a great deal with these experiences. Teaching in an Independent School like TCS has taught me to appreciate the lighter moments of teaching rather than trying to recreate my best lesson day-in-day-out.
Participation in Cohort 21 has brought me to the idea of self-improvement on a daily basis. Thinking about making myself a better teacher, rather than a more efficient teacher. My focus is on a small personal project per year. Not so much improving my efficiency, but improving my understanding of best practices, new practices, and different practices.
While some may lament this way of thinking, personal growth is my focus as it is with my students. Efficiency is great, but it is the unexpected that makes for great experiences. So create some inefficiencies in your classroom, you never know what fun may come from the chaos!
You had me at “chaos!” Love reframing efficiency, rather than as an end, as simply a means of finding balance between class content and real experience.
I am enjoying your focus of teachers not being cookie-cutter images of one another and each striving to focus on self-improvement. I am looking forward to finding out which practices you are planning to explore.
Whenever I hear students talk about what they enjoy in school, they never mention some teacher’s “perfect” lesson. It’s usually a special fun, challenging and/or social experience that wasn’t part of the plan or the regular school day – savour those moments!