Teaching: The "It" Factor

Banana Bread

Some teachers just have it; They can engage students in such a genuine way that it is effortless and transformative.  The more time I spend with children the more convinced I am that great learning is relational.  Responsive interactions may not be the best strategy for learning a discrete skill, but it is highly effective at teaching a different, more critical, class of developmental behavior - the process or activities that children must do themselves in order to learn.

We're still reading!

I think many would agree that great teachers teach children how to learn, not just disconnected pieces of information.  Gerald Mahoney & James MacDonald have identified 5 responsive interactions parents and teachers exhibit that promote this more critical behavior development (see www.responsiveteaching.org for more information on their research):

1. Engage in balanced reciprocal interactions with children. Interactions are reciprocal when teachers and children engage in balanced, back-and-forth exchanges with each other. So after I've said something I wait for the child to respond before I talk again.
2. Respond contingently to activities children initiate. Refers to adult interactions that have a direct relationship to the previous behaviors produced by the child. So if the child is talking about cars you resist the temptation to change the subject to tidying their room!
3. Share control insofar as encouraging children to control the focus of interaction as often as they do. Responsive teachers limit the number of times they direct children so that they respond to the children more than they direct them.
4. Are affective and animated while interacting with children.  Expressing enjoyment at being with children, and the children react with pleasure and excitement at being with them. Consider consciously smiling more - it can become a positive habit!
5. Match children so that what they ask or expect the children to do is influenced by the child's actions, state, or behavioral style. Responsive teachers make it easier for children to understand what they are saying, doing, or requesting by matching or adjusting their behavior to the children.  I've had to work at this one in learning to match enthusiasm and excitement with children when my natural tendency is to maintain peace and calm - hello, sometimes kids want to have fun!

I find choosing one of the strategies at a time to practice is the most effective way to make measurable progress with these skills. A great place to start is reciprocity (making sure you only take one conversational turn at a time... stop talking so much!)

George scrapping Nana's car this morning:)

Joyfully yours,
Caz.