The Tao says, "Take your time; be attentive and receptive" (p. 83). Listening is a skill to be cultivated by teachers. When you listen, you cannot be speaking. Oftentimes when we listen to a student, silently and deliberately, the student will resolve the problem on his/her own. Over time, this type of teacher behavior instills independence in our students and less reliance on the teacher's approval or input.
The Tao says, "Be humble; teach the wholeness of things" (p. 89). Too often we try to simplify a lesson by breaking it down into smaller segments, which then confuses the student even more. "The best way to begin to understand a concept or idea is in its totality" (p. 89). If we can draw on our students' prior experiences and give them a sense of the whole before delving into the details, we set the stage for learning to occur.
The Tao says, "There is no glory in victory" (p. 99). We're back to the winners and losers conundrum. No one wins when a teacher battles with a student. Look for ways to make the solution a win-win situation. Better yet, don't battle to begin with.
The Tao says, "The Way cannot be mastered" (p. 101). No one, and nothing, is perfect. Allow your students to make mistakes. But teach them that making a mistake is not the same as being wrong. There's a great story in this chapter about a high school teacher who encourages his students to ask questions. In order to get them comfortable with this concept, one day he brought a cup to class and told his students that he wanted each of them to ask a question about the cup. "Where did you buy it? What is in it? How do you like it? How much did it cost?" (p. 102) When everyone has asked a question, he says, "Were any of you wrong?"
We put too much energy into finding answers instead of finding more questions.
That closing example sounds like a great icebreaker activity!
ReplyDeleteMargaret
I agree, Margaret. Especially when you have a class where you want lots of engaged discussion!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading my blog.
As culture works to eliminate Christian/Protestant ethics and practice in education, do you think the metaphysical/religious implications of 'The Tao' could be potentially met with same fate, despite the benefits?
ReplyDeletePreston
I always try to pick up tips on how to be a better listener whenever I can. It reminds me of my friend who was taking counseling courses and I asked her what knowledge you get in counseling classes that makes you better at helping people deal with their problems. She said really you just learn to listen and then ask questions that get the person thinking on their own about ways to solve their problems. That sounded similar to your post about how students can often learn to solve problems on their own if teachers listen well and ask pertinent questions.
ReplyDeleteAh, good advice to present the whole rather than going right into breaking a lesson down. I often do the break-it-down-into-small pieces thing but I do sometimes feel like it's just frustrating the student. I'll have to remember to look at the whole first and also to use prior experiences to make a connection for the student. THEN, perhaps each piece of the lesson will be easier to deal with. After all, I would never start a puzzle before looking at what the picture will be!
Not battling with a student. Humm...a very appropriate piece of advice for correctional ed classes! This reminds me of the Horizons article I read about dealing with disruptive behaviors. It gave great tips in how to stay calm so that such battles don't start.
"Making a mistake is not the same as being wrong." Hummmmm....that's one of those statements that I feel is true although I need to wrap my mind around an example. Maybe I'll think of this like: sometimes the mistakes we make are the right way to eventually finding the correct answer. So, if one of my GED students makes a mistake trying to find an answer to a long division problem, but in making that mistake, it leads him to realizing what he needs to do to find the right answer, then the mistake wasn't wrong at all. He was on the right path all along. Okay, I'm good now! I'll have to remember that!
Fascinating book, Connie! I'll have to read this one.
Preston, I'll take your question first, and I apologize for taking so long to do that.
ReplyDeleteI guess I would have to say that I just don't agree with your premise--that culture is eliminating Christian/Protestant ethics and practice in education. I believe that culture may be trying to eliminate the "religious" trappings in education. I see this as an effort to be more inclusive of all faiths, without giving privilege or preference to one or another.
But I don't believe that ethics (of a more secular nature) are being eliminated. On the contrary, I believe that there is a strong effort to teach ethics/right-from-wrong currently thriving in many schools. In many ways, it's what we teach when we foster critical thinking.
The Tao has been with us for almost 3,000 years--I don't think it's in danger of being eliminated either. I think it's principles have lasted so long because they express truths which are never going to change, and thus will last forever. Whether we hear the call to truth is another question. Some will, some will take a little longer. :)
Okay, Emily. Great observation about counselors. I guess that's one of the hats we where as educators, right?
Great example of how to make a mistake but not be wrong! You are one with the Tao!! :)
Connie
(To Preston's comment)
ReplyDeleteMy brother explained the differences between Christianity and Wiccanism this way:
The Christian does something he regrets, and he prays to God and Jesus and everything is forgiven and it's done. The Wiccan does something he regrets, and knows that he will have to take responsibility for his action because the negative will come back into his life--magnified three times.
"Do unto others as you would have them do to you" and "If you harm none, do as you will" are not that different.
Christianity is not the only guideline for ethical behavior. I am thankful to live in a country where I am able to contemplate what does, and does not, work for me as an ethical guideline.
Margaret