Learning Conversations
  • New Book
  • Martin Richards
  • About
    • Quotes
  • Clients
    • Nordic Network
    • Katedralskolan
    • Folkungagymnasiet
    • TIS
    • College Students
  • Contact
  • LftH

Evolving Education
one small step at the time

LISTEN HERE

Hammering in the Screw (bad teaching)

10/12/2018

 
You probably learned early on in your teaching career that your very best explanations sometimes don't get through to certain students.

You would never blame the student, so where can you look for ways of developing your explanations?

Of the many possible ways, I suggest the looking at student and subject.

When you are explaining, which of these two are you focus on most?:
  • The subject
  • The student

It's about balance, isn't it? Every situation requires you to find the balance. And the balance keeps moving whilst you are explaining. Sometimes a tap-tap-tap with the hammer, sometimes a twist-twist-twist with the screwdriver.

If you are focusing on the student and you aren't getting through, change your focus to the subject. Be clear about the terminology you are using, minimise jargon. Refer to simpler examples, use metaphors, show diagrams, refer to earlier completed exercises. You might say:

- Here's an example we did last week. How does that help?
- Here's a diagram that might be clearer.
- What xyz means is ...

And, if you are focusing on the subject and you aren't getting through, change your focus to the student. Notice how motivated they are, and work with that. Notice how panicked they are and work with that. Notice what they already know and work with that. You might ask:

- How challenging is this? And what is a good thing to do when things are this challenging?
- How calm are you right now? And what is a good thing to do when you are this calm?
- What have you done that's worked before? And how might that help you here?
- Who else could give you the explanation you need?

That last question is more to do with sharing the responsibility for learning amongst the learners. Teaching is a great way to learn too. And it gives teachers more space to think when they are not expected to explain individually to every student. That's not practical in a school setting.

Before we move on, I'd like to ask about your habits.
When explaining, do you usually pick up the hammer or the screwdriver?
Just asking!

I mean which do you focus on first?:
- The subject
 -The student

That's a tricky question because there's no best answer. I am inviting you to notice if you have a habit of focusing primarily on just one. If so, then I encourage you to soften your focus next time and choose the other. See what happens.

I have a further question about your priorities too.
Which do you feel is most important:
- Your explanation is correct
- The student understands

Again, I am inviting you to notice your priorities and be vulnerable, caring and courageous enough to change them in the moment.

The former priority can lead to you giving one size fits all explanations, so I would challenge that. Not because the explanation is wrong, but simply because the student doesn't understand. 

The latter priority could lead you giving different explanations to every student which, apart from being exhausting, can lead to confusion when other students overhear your tailored explanation, or share their tailored explanation with another student.

Just a final question. How true do you think this statement is?
There is an explanation that will be understood by every student

My answer is, "The correct explanation is always - the one that works, not the one that always works." Because there isn't one that always works with all students, all the time.

Yeah, they are all different, aren't they?

Yippee

Comments are closed.

    Sign here to receive updates

    * indicates required
    Coach, Educator, or both
    Let's TALK
    I enjoy speaking with people about coaching and teaching. Do you have an hour to invest in a learning conversation?

    Click on the button to see when I am available, and book a call. Let's talk.
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Coaching Learners
    Coaching Teachers
    Five Tips From A Retired Educator
    Five Ways To Kill A Teacher
    ICF Core Skills
    Primary School
    Secondary School
    Story
    Teachers Who Affected My Life
    Ten Tips From The Retired Entrepreneur
    Tools

    Archives

    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016


    The Books


    The Podcasts



    The Author

    I am a teacher, a business-owner, a public speaker, a coach and an author.

    Yes I'm a bit of a politician and a preacher too!

    My Mission is to play a major part in supporting the education system in taking its next evolutionary step, becoming self-evolving rather than self-preserving.

  • New Book
  • Martin Richards
  • About
    • Quotes
  • Clients
    • Nordic Network
    • Katedralskolan
    • Folkungagymnasiet
    • TIS
    • College Students
  • Contact
  • LftH