Twitter is a buzz with well meaning educators giving advice. Teachers are sharing from their experience. It has led to a recent surge in wonderful education books where classroom teachers are sharing about Being a Pirate in some way, Making Epic Classrooms, Being Innovative or teaching in some specific manner that works for them. As an educator we have to always remember first and foremost to be authentic to ourselves and students. This antidotal stories from well meaning educators are not silver bullets. The styles and efforts described aren’t a cook book for success. They are stories of success. That may or may not help a teacher as Nicholas says so well in tweet below:
If teachers focus on the goal of being our best every day and continually getting better that is what matters most. The only way to do this is to be authentic. Read all the books, they are filled with incredible ideas, but make them your own. Focus on what you see working in your classroom. Then remember that everyone and everywhere is different. We can’t judge others because they don’t create an epic classroom or teach the way we feel they should.
Putting definitive statements out about homework, “Never give homework“, or grading, “Don’t give Zeroes“, are well meaning but can be totally damaging to teachers. Especially when administrators say these things. Educators have felt demoralized over the last 10 years, it is best we work on build their self worth up and support them where they are without bias. (Just like we do with students!)
I suggest you read others stories that are all full of great ideas. Try some of the ideas that might work for your situation. While remaining authentic to yourself and your students.
Authors note:
I have been pondering this post for a long time, today Nick’s tweet prompted the final draft. While there are so many incredible books being written on education we can’t take any of them a gospel or recipes for classroom success. Twitter is a powerful tool, teachers need to model the proper use of it for learning and collaborating. It is time educators stop judging how others teach via a social media tool. Unless you go into observe a classroom, one can not begin to understand HOW a teacher teaches or WHY they do it in their manner.
Sweat to Inspire 