Teach Creatively With LOVE

Teaching is truly an artform, and one of its most amazing features is its ability to help others to uncover their own 'art' [when I say 'art' I'm talking here about anything that receives active and passionate dedication of your time, because I feel strongly that this is the essence of all art- and as I promised earlier; this blog is not simply talking about "The Fine Arts"!] 

 I have always been impressed and impacted by the way in which we can be so wholly and radically changed by something- when we find that 'thing' that we love. Whether it be the arts, sciences, math- or something not so clearly defined by a "subject area" or school room activity.

  As educators this is the single most important key we have towards unlocking our students' sense of  awe and personal aspirations. When we find 'that thing' that makes our students... each and every single one of them, happy, then we have the power to engage them.  

But engaging doesn't mean teaching solely to your students' interests, but rather using those interests to inspire them to explore new avenues and challenge their preconceptions. Personally, I would have loved it had someone have taken the time for me, in elementary and highschool, to rectify my misconceptions surrounding math and physical education.  I never felt comfortable in either classroom situation, and unfortunately as a result, to this day I still have a very limited scope of what "goes on" in a good math or "gym" class.  I still shy away from trying to address a difficult math equation... and I don't want to be that educator; who shys away from the subjects I don't want to teach.

Instead, I want to help children get creative within these subjects, and all subjects- so that they can explore and gain their footholds in each and every discipline.

Student's don't just "not like" things.  They arrive at this point as a result of,

either a misconception about the subject area (perhaps a 'bad experience' within one narrow understanding of the subject) or, more likely, as a result of feeling uncomfortable within the set up of the tasks.  The more they try, and do- in different ways and in safe comfortable environments, the more they open themselves up to love and learn and appreciate the interests and experiences of others.

So remember: Teach What you Don’t Love in the Ways You Love to Teach. – "Miss Pollard"