How many of us as parents and educators say "It's not about us. It's about them." and actually mean it? Too few unfortunately. We want to believe that we let our children come first, however, that isn't always the case. It's not that we don't want that to be, it's more that it isn't always feasible. As parents, there many obstacles and realities that come into play such as work, financials obligations, and relationships that often take full attention from children and what they wish were a reality in their lives. As educators, there are the administrative constructs that dictate what a child should learn, when they should learn it, how they should learn it, and sadly, even how the instructor should teach it to meet the previous three criteria. There is not enough trust from the administrators in that the teacher can go about meeting the criteria without thier influence.
To light a spark, we must return back to the mentality that it isn't about us and that it is about them. We must inspire confidence in our children; in our students. They must believe that they are masters of their own destinies so that they can rise to fulfill this destiny. Such as Chapter 5 in the Art of Possibility by Rosamund and Ben Zander taught us, we must consider how much greatness we are willing to grant our children/students. Will we be able to transfer some of our own desires to be great in order to provide an opportunity for our students/children to reach a level of greatness? It is not easy to do yet it is something that is possible. At home, I often let my children cook dinner because as someone that is culinarily trained, my children often want to show me that they, too, can cook a nice meal. This effort allows me to see their drive to be great in my eyes. How I choose to critique and appreciate their meal determines how great they will feel and how much more they are willing to do to maintain this feeling of greatness.
This idea is the beginning of what I have done at home to light the spark in my children. I have also maintained an academic spark in them by continuing my education and by showing them that I love to learn and exceed my limitations. They are watching me be a role model for the lessons that I try to teach them. This tends to light the fire for them to meet and exceed both their own limitations as well as meet and exceed my expectations for them.
How I plan to light the spark in my students once I begin teacher is to let them have more of an upfront role in the classroom. One thing I have always seen in education until this point at Full Sail, is that students don't have the opportunity to lead their own education. Sure, there must be someone in charge, yet we have a tendency to assume that students cannot dictate their own education. This is what sets Full Sail apart and also what made it the best school I have attended. There is a premise to how we learn. There are guidelines, dictates, and the like to keep us following the required lessons, lectures, and curriculum yet, ultimately, the student leads his or her own learning by following the deadlines, seeking additional resources and providing these that are found to their fellow classmates. Full Sail epitomizes the 'Each one, teach one' principle. This lights a spark in me and that spark and that ideal is what I will use in my classroom. Students will learn the concepts that I must teach, and then they will help each other to ensure that all learn and understand. This gives them a sense of fulfillment because they have helped someone else while learning themselves.
For some, this method will simply allow them to pass and move on to the next grade while for others, this will inspire a lifelong learning and the desire to teach others to be just as they are. This method works. I know because this is what my teacher did for me in 2nd grade and she is the reason I continue to learn and why I want to educate others; both personally and professionally. Thank you, Mrs. Cooper.
