"I consider Gay and Kathlyn to be my teachers." -John Bradshaw
17 years old and wanting answers
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17 years old and wanting answers
I teach a course at our local college. It is a first year required course and the topic is 'life and success'. I love to teach and explore ideas about life, relationships, passion, inspiration with my students, about half of whom are 17 years old.
My style of teaching is very experiential, I do not agree with 'marking' or testing in general so I do very little of that, and what I do do is as democratic as possible. I see myself as a teacher who pushes the boundaries of education -- for example, I don't imagine that I know what the secrets to life success are. Instead I'm more interested in providing tools and inviting them to listen to their own wisdom and to move forward from there.
What I find so interesting is how RESISTANT the students are at being asked to come to their own conclusions. When they ask questions, they expect me to give them the best answer and are irritated when I don't. I don't know, maybe this isn't surprising to you... but I sure find it amazing how attached they are to the idea of 'one right answer'.
I mean, I know that this is a result of testing and grading and being told what to think for years and years of schooling. However, I did have the idea that at 17 years old, the students would be thrilled to know that their own answers are as important and valid as anything I could procure.
I wonder how quickly children lose the willingness and ability to trust themselves and their inner knowing? Or, more usefully in my situation, I wonder if in our 13 weeks together I will be able to invite them to know what they already do....
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"If children grew up according to early indications, we should have nothing but geniuses." -- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Helen Daniels
Genius Coach (phone coaching available)
613.728.8433 (Eastern Standard Time)
http://www.helendaniels.com
http://www.easenflow.com
http://twitter.com/helendaniels
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