As a teacher I am on a constant learning curve and my Practical Theory is still evolving. The recognition of the fact that each teacher is an individual, the professional and the person are neither mutually exclusive nor two separate entities makes teaching a way of life for me. As an individual, each teacher has a respective set of values, beliefs, principles and metaphors which eventually makes one teacher different from the other. Having said that, teacher’s ability to adapt and incorporate ever evolving challenges unique to different teaching environments is also pivotal to effective pedagogy.
The value of a well prepared class lesson can never be undermined. No matter what the level of proficiency in the subject area or how seasoned a teacher, a well prepared, pragmatic approach to lesson delivery in class room always fosters student’s confidence in the teacher. This in turn serves as the foundation for a student teacher relationship based on mutual respect, trust and confidence. In my experience it helps bring the barriers down in a classroom and students are more receptive to the teacher. A well prepared class lesson will always have a variety of class activities and margin for improvisation, thus fully catering to the variations in learning abilities in a single class room.
I firmly believe that my role as a teacher does not end with my students passing my course and moving on to the next level. For me teaching is not something of an assembly line operation but an experience comprising of human relationships, where we as teachers are the 'chosen ones' facilitating learning at so many different levels. When, after having delivered a lesson, one of the student walks up to me for further clarification, sits down and prunes out all the ambiguities, I will then ask him to demonstrate his grasp of the concept on the board to a bigger audience. It was not just his grades but also his self-confidence and self-esteem which just went up - an ultimate fulfilling experience for me as a teacher!
In principle, my pedagogy as a teacher is 'individual-oriented' who is multifaceted, student being just one of the facets of that individual sitting in my classroom. If I can reach out and connect to that 'individual' as a person on different levels then connection at a student level will just follow by itself. It helps me harness all the energies in that individual in a more effective and productive way, redirecting them to accomplish goals and desired results.
"A hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had in the bank…but the world may be a better place because I made a difference in the life of a child" Forest Witcraft
