This week we we read an article called "Metaphors We Teach By" by Mary Ann Bowman and then were asked to reflect on a metaphor that is present in our own teaching career. This Master's degree journey as allowed for so much growth and the type of teacher I am striving to be. I have learned to be flexible and not everything has an easy answer. You have to make the best of situations and learn from things that didn't go as well as you had hoped. You can use the best strategies but still have a result you were not expecting. It's all part of the game!
Teaching is a game of Go Fish.
Bear with me, I'm not sure how this popped into my head but I promise it will make sense :)
Teachers start each year with particular students, resources, objectives, strategies, etc. (the hand they are dealt). Throughout the year, teachers try to make the best possible outcome with what they are given:
* Teachers may have to seek out more help and may not always get a response (ask others for card)
* Teachers are asked by others for help but can't always do what is needed, even if they wish they could solve the problem ("Go Fish")
* Teachers will search for outside resources to support their students and hope to find something that works (draw from the pond)
* Teachers share ideas among colleagues (give card to another player)
* Teachers feel best when everything is organized and ends up being a success (all the pairs are found)
* Good teachers are okay with making progress, even if that isn't the same as total success by the end of the year (it turns out you were playing with a deck that was short one card all along)
* Teachers take all of the experiences and growth from one year to the next (cards shuffled and ready to start a new game)
Who is ready to shuffle things over the summer and start a brand new game?!?
No comments:
Post a Comment