Those who can do, because….

It is amazing job, being a teacher…..

The other day, I was instructing my students how to go online, find a website, enter a passcode, to find more information about a concept we were learning. I suddenly realized I was teaching my students how to use a technology that didn’t exist when I was their age. What is amazing, I haven’t even made it to the 1/2 century mark yet. The technology has moved at lightning speeds, leaving behind those who blink.

Winston Churchill, arguable the one man who changed history. I’ve taken an interest in him lately because not only did he accomplish an incredible feat (for all of those of you who missed it, he challenged Hitler, and won) but he had such a timeless philosophy, it can be easily applied to today’s world.

Consider this quote: “Where my reason, imagination and interest where not engaged, I would not or I could not learn”.

How to catch the interest and imagination of our children or students is a daily challenge. I am teaching students to be ready for a (their) world that probably doesn’t exist today, by using today’s technology (that didn’t exist in my world), with yesterday’s (my grandfather’s) philosophy.

When we ignore today’s world, and teach them ours, we are missing an opportunity to use their interest and reason.

So what do we teach them from our world? Love, understanding, respect, compassion, trust, honesty, loyalty. To stand for what you believe in using a moral compass that guides them through a world of amazement and confusion. It is a challenge to teach. It is not for the weak hearted. People joke “that those who can, do, and those who can’t, teach….I have a different thought…Those who can do, because they can’t teach.

photo credit: InSapphoWeTrust via photopin cc

: : : : : : : : : : :

Easy To Learn, If You Love It

Ever since my daughter was young, she loved horses. We put her on a pony at 2 1/2 years old, and she has never looked back. At 5 years old, we started formal training lessons, and now she is advancing quickly. We don’t have to beg her to get ready to go to lessons, it doesn’t matter how cold or hot the weather is, or even if she is sick (unless she is really sick), she is enthusiastic and eager to learn. When you really find something that you love doing, it is easy to learn about it because your interest is high. Many people love horses. Some just like to look at them, some would never climb up on top of an animal that is 1000 lbs and has it’s own mind and some like to watch them race like the wind. But when you enjoy something…anything, you will have the excitement, that will drive you to learn even more. Encourage your students to find what they love.