In our school we
have some ducks and geese who constantly parade in the pond and on campus, so I
was quite eager to know what might be the purpose of putting these geese in the
school. It was Friday, quite a tiring day; I sat on one of the benches near the
pond in the evening. It was relaxing to watch the children playing and listen
to the birds singing. In the pond there were few ducks.
As I observed
these beautiful aquatic birds, I thought of a few principles that I think even
teacher a needs to learn from them. I would like to share those with my young
teaching fraternity who have to manage their students’ learning while keeping
their own sanity intact. So here are some lessons that I have gathered from the
ducks. Teaching may be an intimidating
profession even for experienced hands. For new faculty, it can be a daily
battle just to keep their heads above the water.
Smooth
on top, paddling energetically underneath
If you watch a
duck, it looks as though it is sailing smoothly on the surface of the water
with little difficulty. But on closer observation, you realize that they are
paddling very hard under the water to reach their destination. Likewise, a
teacher should put all his or her effort to ensure the class is going smoothly.
Teachers need to work hard to make teaching appear smooth. Such a disposition requires empathy and
emotional intelligence. A teacher can be stressed and frustrated but on the
surface s/he should show a positive disposition to achieve her/his aim. The teacher should try to unlock the
potential of the child.
Young teachers,
your colleagues are your best resources. Do not be afraid to ask for help. They
have many experiences, stories, strategies and innovative teaching methods that
they can share with you. If you want to learn from them, feel free to ask and
open yourself to new experiences. You need to create a culture of sharing and
collaborating for your personal success and for the success of the student you
teach.
Duck
feathers - as resilient as they come
Duck feathers are
renowned for their resilience to water. Teachers should have similar levels of
resilience. If you are overwhelmed by issues such as managing classes and
controlling your students’ behavioral problems, try not to conclude that you
are incapable of handling them. Here is some sound advice on how to maintain
your equilibrium:
o
Do not get involved with any arguments
with the students.
o
Do not give incorrect information. If you
do not know the answer to a question, it is okay to say so, or ask the class if
anyone knows the answer. If not, tell
them that you will check and get back with the answer in next class.
This will create a
good image and help you improve your personality.
Heads
down…
Ducks, in order to
survive; need to put their heads down below the surface of the water to reach
for food sources. Likewise, teachers
need to update themselves with new technology in teaching and different
strategies of learning. Do participate
in every professional development programme available in the school.
Professional development not only improves your teaching skills and practice,
it helps you to develop bonds with other faculty members who are more
experienced. Further, you will acquire
good knowledge of different strategies and skills of effective teaching. It is also of paramount importance that
teachers respect their students and also understand that the Z generation is
more technology oriented than we are. Each student is capable of being an
achiever - if you are willing to help her or him unravel his or her potential
and skills - and facilitate the student’s journey to achieving excellence in
the course of his or her learning.
Ducklings
always follow others
I always notice
that the little ones follow an adult duck, that may be its mother or an older
duck. I read somewhere that once the duckling is hatched, it invariably follows
the first thing it sees and remains attached to it. This is called imprinting.
Similarly, teachers should develop a personality which your students can role
model. Your one-day absence from class should be felt by the students. In order to create such an impact, you need
to be approachable and accessible; welcoming teacher-student interaction. An approachable teacher with a sense of humor
is a trait that young ones would prefer to someone who is unapproachable and
dour. Such an approach goes a long way
in increasing students’ efficiency and good grade points.
Madhusoodana. Sunnambala
