Lessons learnt from a life in learning

“There is no greater undertaking than exists in schools”(Sean Friedenthal)
Whether it is a minister or a missionary, whose position and profession exclude a certain group of people; nobody has the group of people to work with that teachers do. It is a privilege to have the involvement with people and the influence on the future that teachers do.
Habits of excellent teachers
1. Believe in people
2. Take risks on the growing edge
3. Keep learning
4. Plan thoroughly
5. Nurture your faith
6. Use findings of the latest neuroscience research
7. Reflect
How to maintain discipline in classrooms
• Create an ethos that celebrates what is good rather than just punishing what is bad.
Learners who are on the cusp of either good or bad behaviour will lean towards the side which you give most attention to (i.e. if more of your attention is on punishment of what is bad, they will lean towards that to get your attention)
• What you condone, you authorize to exist.
• What you want from kids, you have to give to them in return and more so.
How to engage young people
• Get them involved in the learning process.
• Assuming basic education (literacy and numeracy) is in place, focus more on emotional education.
Measuring success in teaching:
• In the short term, measurable results such as final marks and matric results are the only way.
• True success in teaching is measured in the thirst for further learning that you have cultivated in your students.
• An important lesson to teach kids is to imbue them with the tendency to selfless service to their community.
Lessons learned from a life in teaching:
• We need to teach children to deal with failure correctly
• Don’t move too quickly in your career to seek promotion, because this results in too much lateral movement.
• Teaching can consume you and it is important to work together with the people in your life to create some sort of balance to deal with this
• Teamwork in teaching is essential, since it builds the capacity of yourself and the entire institution.
Good education systems have:
• The best people as teachers
• Good training for teachers and principals
• Good support for mediocre students
• Good maths and science programs
An effective Governing body:
• Is supportive of the school, but not controlling.
• Involved in fundraising, but not demanding.
• Should not attempt to micro-manage a school, because this undermines everyone in a leadership position within the school
• Has a role of oversight and monitoring, not undermining.
• Puts in place a good succession plan for all leadership positions in the school to ensure a seamless takeover of duties!
Rest a little, thank you for your support!