The Rare Art of Teaching

I stepped into another class. The teacher waited, as any “good” teacher would, with a textbook in
hand, a list on the board and worksheets stacked neatly on the corner of the desk. I already knew
the lesson format, considering I had faced three lessons of the same this day, 15 lessons of the same
this week, 100 lessons of the same this month and 1000 lessons of the same this year…

An explanation about the concept. An illustration of the process. An example to follow. A worksheet
for practice. Homework for completion and consolidation. A grade towards the next report card.

This lead me to thinking…

How would teachers teach in a world without “THE FORMAT”? What if teachers could bring ideas to
pupils in such a way that learning happened without them even knowing? Jesus Christ, the most
influential teacher of all time, had no paper, no smartboard, no IPad, no textbook, no chalkboard
and no classroom. What would happen if teachers taught with the goal of imparting a change in
thinking and knowledge, rather than the goal of generating workbooks filled with the evidence of
student work, prep files filled with work-control schedules and lessons structured around work-
management? When did teaching degenerate into “copy me, do these three, mark quickly?” I’m not
expecting some new “out-there” methodology or curriculum. It’s more a question of… when last did
teachers deliver lessons that got concepts across without the students “keeping quiet” or “doing the
worksheets?” When last did they deliver a lesson that was exciting? When last did you see students
wanting to go to class?

I challenge teachers to pause and consider… when last did you teach something in a way your
students could really relate to? Do you even know how to teach without “worksheet evidence”?
Could you construct a lesson that was led by student thinking – rather than your thinking? Could you
teach in a way that wouldn’t require your students to simply listen or write, but would engage your
students in planning, in moving, in laughing, in arguing, in creating, in dreaming, in collaborating, in
trying and failing, in trying and succeeding, in playing, in short… learning like kids?

The test of a great teacher is not in the books, assignments, homework and worksheets of their
students, but in the hearts and minds of these students. Your students will not remember the hours
of work, but they may remember a time when their hearts and hands were engaged while you were
effortlessly filling their heads.

I dare every teacher to try something different. Maybe just once this month. Or this week. Or this
day.

But watch out – you may actually like teaching again. You may actually realise how smart kids are.
You may actually leave a lasting impression. You may actually make a difference.

I stepped into another class… the teacher was sitting on the floor and said, “Put away your books.
Are you ready to try out…?”

Just imagine.