Thank you so much, Don, for reminding me this morning to teach the journey and not the map. Thanks also for the reminder that it is not cheating to use ideas from our daily writing "time outs" to present in our blogs. I was writing furiously this morning in response to your journey/map riff, so let me share.
I am picturing the journey as a river trip, either by raft or canoe. As teachers, we are the river guide who is responsible for the equipment (paddles, life jackets, etc.), food, basic instructions such as paddling techniques and safety information. Then we get in the boat with the kids and we paddle together. We did what we could to plan for the trip, and we did it well. But once we are on the river, the risk factor enters. We are never sure exactly what kind of journey it will be. There are so many other factors that come into play---the weather, the level of the river, the athleticism/attitude of each individual in the boat. And it is the uncertainty of these factors that make the trip an adventure worth taking. As teachers/guides, we do what we can but then we have to relinquish some degree of control and let the river take over. At this point, we have to trust the process. We will get to the destination by sharing the uncertainties of the journey together.
Of course, Bob Dylan might say to us that, despite the whole journey, "You Ain't Going Nowhere." And, in a different sense, even though I am sunburned, wet, and muscle sore, I believe he is entirely correct. Ah, the truth of paradox. I am thanking Parker Palmer for that insight. And, Don, I am thanking you for your teaching this morning. It did what good teaching should do---it took me to a place that I could not have reached on my own.
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P.S. to Don---The Avett Brothers are in my book bag (figuratively, of course) :)
ReplyDeleteLynn, you are too kind. I appreciate your comments (and the music).
ReplyDeleteLynn, you are truly a writer to be read. Analogies and metaphors are difficult for me to incorporate in my thinking and writing and really appreciated the importance of them to view a concept with more clarity. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThese discussions are sooooooo needed in our school life and when they are brought up in my school setting (while eating lunch), it always ends up either too shallow (few passing comments and then on to Johnnie's horrible behavior) or just plain whining. I yearn for them. I appreciate hearing all the comments yesterday morning. We are so boogled with paperwork, it is next to impossible to have any political power with those who determine our course in the classroom.
I fully feel that we (I) should be held accountable for what I am teaching and the assessing of those standards. My personal problem is trying to teach students, who usually are years behind their peers how, in 9 months, to get up to peer grade level and do well (pass?) the stupid OAT. It is a challenge that no one has been able to really help me. Any ideas?
I think that if we are truly successful as teachers, we can eventually concentrate on steering our students rather than doing so much rowing. This is kind of a model of parenting that I subscribe to. The hope is that students (and my kids) will sooner or later be able to go forth largely independently of my efforts if I provide the right guidance.
ReplyDeleteI think that's it. Many believe as teachers we are the Seer but I don't agree. We are simply river guides trying to help our passengers miss the boulders lying in the river and through that we can hope they gain the skills to one day take on their own boat and their own passengers! (and their own OAT test)
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