Leadership
During this pandemic, many of us have taken on new roles, as well as new ways of doing our roles. Ways of leading, guiding and teaching one another have changed. The role of parents, and teachers have become immensely complicated by social distancing and quarantines. The supervision of adults working from home has been a challenge, as bosses find new ways of monitoring workers. Reaching out for support from others in a similar position becomes more and more important. Remember, we are all trying to do the best we can, because we care!
Thinking about Teaching
Do you remember your favorite teachers in school? Perhaps you loved them because they infused you with inspiration, curiosity, wonder? Perhaps they modeled loving relationships and respect for all. Maybe they were calm, and created an atmosphere, an oasis of peacefulness within the chaos of the school day. Maybe they had a great sense of humor, laughing at themselves, their mistakes, their own humanity, and with you about life. What qualities made you love a special teacher?
On the Sufi path, we say a prayer called Pir. The Pir is the Sufi teacher or guide. Lessons are given individually and in groups, often in sacred conversations called ‘sohbet.’ I contemplate this prayer daily, as a meditation with devotion for my teachers, but also as a way of understanding that if I can recognize these qualities in a teacher, they also exist inside me. I want to bring them forward in a conscious way, in order to honor and inspire my students.
Pir
Inspirer of my mind, consoler of my heart, healer of my spirit,
Thy presence lifteth me from earth to heaven
Thy words flow as the sacred river
Thy thought riseth as a divine spring
Thy tender feelings waken sympathy in my heart.
Beloved Teacher, thy very being is forgiveness.
The clouds of doubt and fear are scattered by thy piercing glance.
All ignorance vanishes in thy illuminating presence;
A new hope is born in my heart by breathing thy peaceful atmosphere.
O inspiring Guide through life’s puzzling ways,
in Thee I feel abundance of blessing.
Affective Domain
The affective domain deals with our feelings, emotions and attitudes. It is where we find our motivation, what moves us to act. The prayer above is a daily motivation for me to be the best teacher I can be. In what other ways can we be the creative force that helps others want to do or create what is theirs to do?
Motivation and inspiration are important to the roles of parents and employers. Surveys of employers indicate that they care more about communication skills and teamwork than about cognitive skills.[1] Other important qualities include integrity, respect and good customer relationships. Work ethic is of great importance as well. How to help instill these qualities in our coworkers and our children? How do we create a classroom and work place atmosphere that encourages and values these qualities? Perhaps we could look closely at the examples we set as role models.
Developing positive relationships with students and coworkers is one of the most important qualities of a good teacher. Truly seeing students in the depth of their being and their hearts, and recognizing with honor who they are is one of the greatest gifts we can give to our students. If students like and respect their teacher, they are motivated to listen and learn. If a teacher takes the time to listen to her students, and carefully learn about their individual strengths and weaknesses in learning and completing projects, she can produce the intended impression that will assist in the needed result. A teacher must find effective ways to help students develop a pattern of behavior conducive to learning. A teacher can model effective and polite ways of communicating, thereby motivating her students to communicate in ways that other students respond to with reciprocal thoughtful and pleasant ways.
Trust is built when a student feels their teacher enjoys being with them and likes them as a person. When disciplinary procedures humiliate and break trust, there is a breakdown in engagement and motivation. When a teacher is caring and kind, taking time to listen to students, being patient, greater achievement can occur.[2] Natural consequences have a way of changing behavior, if the adult responds with empathy and understanding. This helps avoid defensive kickbacks and emotional outbursts. However, if the action of a child causes danger to self or others, a different method should be used.
Teaching is one of the most complicated jobs in the world. Each situation and subject ask for a different approach. A teacher is asked to help with a child’s attitude and moral development, their ability to think and develop skills of all sorts, and their knowledge and understanding of content. Organizing and orchestrating the myriad needs, materials, schedules, etc. requires an incredible amount of focus, and presence.
Enthusiasm and love of teaching can assist a teacher in having the fortitude and stamina to continue this work year after year, while dealing with an enormous workload and how the current problems and issues in society affect the conditions in the school and classroom. Loving the subject matter and the students brings a commitment as well as exciting and engaging lessons in the day-to-day practice.
Also, of great importance for any leader is the inner work, looking inside at motivation, desire, how power operates within and without. This deep work can be accomplished with the assistance of friendships and community support. Sometimes we are blessed with coworkers who are willing to discuss and help us learn from self-reflection. Sometimes we find renewal in spiritual retreat and community. All of us need support and refreshment, rest and respite. We must seek it out to be able to perform at our best.
Engagements of the Mind
It’s a trap.
These engagements of the mind.
The power struggles
Over who will do what.
Trapped in the mind,
Unable to act from the heart.
Unable to see what the children need
To develop their souls’ potential.
Nina Massey
Expectations
Never give up on a student. A great teacher believes in all of her students and their ability to succeed. She sets high expectations. Setting and communicating clear objectives allows students to set goals. Immediate feedback with careful recognition of closely approximated success, as well as clear directions for the next step in meeting goals helps motivate students to try again. Recognizing the innate potential in each student honors their ability to accomplish the next step.
Prepared & organized
Being prepared and organized is a must. Setting up organizational systems to facilitate ease of finding materials helps a teacher to remain calm, and to keep students engaged in learning more minutes of the day. Also, a clean organized environment is a more pleasant place to spend time. Once I heard that the condition of a desk is reflective of the condition of its owner’s mind. Perhaps this is so sometimes. Definitely it is worth reflecting on the value of keeping the classroom environment less cluttered and pleasing. Students need a space for learning that is theirs to manage. They can learn to keep it clean and organized in a way that is conducive to learning and the work they need to do. A sense of ownership and control of the space will motive a student to perform at their best.
Learning & Teaching
We live in a time when what makes a good teacher is much debated. Some believe that high test scores are the best measure. Others look at value added measures, in which effective teachers raise the scores of lower students more than expected. But what about the importance of the affective domain?
In a 2015 Pew research survey[3], Americans responded that the most important skill kids need to gain in school are good communication skills. Team work came in 4th after reading and math skills. A good teacher models communication skills with every interaction in the classroom. Being kind and polite, while using a friendly tone of voice sets a standard of expectations for interactions, and shows kids how to be that way.
Community building is another important part of creating an atmosphere in the classroom. Cooperative learning and teambuilding techniques can help students learn to collaborate together.[4] There is research showing how cooperative learning techniques improve social skills, relationships and academic achievement. Students learn to enjoy working together and becoming part of a team.
Someone once said that the best teachers are the best students. I have been teaching now for 41 years at many different levels in many different capacities. I have never lost my thirst for learning, trying new ways, considering the ideas of others, etc. I think that this innate curiosity has kept teaching alive for me. I can’t imagine ever stopping learning. There is always something new to consider and learn about!
You have been a voice
Of the spirit
Trying to come through these souls.
You have been a voice
Asking for creativity and flexibility.
Asking for these souls
To be listened to and to be heard.
Asking for change as the souls change
And the times change.
Desiring more
Than can be given in these times.
[1] Bortz, Daniel. 5 traits employers really want younger workers to have. Retrieved from https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/must-have-traits-young-workers-1116
[2] Peterson-Deluca, Ashley. Top Five Qualities of Effective teachers, According to Students. 2016: Pearson. Retrieved from https://www.pearsoned.com/top-five-qualities-effective-teachers/
[3] Goo, Sara Kehaulani. 2015. The skills Americans say kids need to succeed in life. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/02/19/skills-for-success/
[4] Kagan, Dr. Spencer & Miguel. Kagan Cooperative Learning. Retrieved from https://www.kaganonline.com/free_articles/research_and_rationale/