The seventh chapter of Fires in the Bathroom, by Kathleen Cushman, focused on ways that the teacher can present material to the students in a helpful and supportive way. On page 123, Vance makes an observation on something that happens so often it is worth discussing, "Lots of teachers will give you every step leading up to the answer. You're not really learning anything, you're just reciting it." I would be willing to bet that everybody can think of at least one teacher to which this applies. Is that not discouraging? It seems that at some point education shifted from the art of teaching to the art of monotonic recitation; educating is more than presenting research based monologues, it is the act of enlightening and impassioning. Teaching in the manner to which Vince was referring results too often in memorization, not learning.
It is important to allow creativity to flourish in the classroom. By being creative and flexible the teacher is taking into consideration more than just one intelligence or perspective. Students learn best when they are allowed to adapt lessons to their own passions and lives. After being in the field for just four days I have been confronted with many different learning styles and it has allowed me to begin thinking in these varied ways. Ultimately, it is the teachers' responsibility to ensure that every student has the opportunity to be successful and if that means roaming into unfamiliar territory then face it head-on.
Final thought: America has become so fixated on reaching the finish line that we are now missing out on the actual race; in the end it is not the grades attained but the demonstration of skills acquired.
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