Put yourself in your students' shoes. What will you learn this week?
/How often do you put yourself in your students' shoes?
This week:
Read a teacher's reflection on the discomfort of being a student
Get caught up on news about the new book, Powerful Teaching
A friend recently told us this: If people can be good at only one thing, it should be learning. And to get good at learning, the first step is being a student.
What will you learn this week? Comment below and let us know!
Put yourself in your students' shoes
When was the last time you were a student? When was the last time you signed up for a class, started a hobby, or simply stopped to ponder a new question and seek the answer?
A literature professor, Jan, recently shared her experience in the classroom as a student when she was learning a new language:
"It has been important to me to put myself in challenging situations and see where I land. I have been inspired to keep trying—watching Spanish speaking TV, using apps, and exploring a Spanish YouTube channel.
"It has been really good to feel that uncomfortable. It makes me understand more fully how some of our students feel when they are learning a language—it makes me understand that I can be really smart and feel really stupid all at once. I don’t mean that in a negative way—it has been a great lesson."
Here's your challenge: Close your eyes (for just a minute!) and think about one thing you want to learn this week. As Jan did, put yourself in a situation where you feel both smart and stupid all at once. (I'm going to learn how to fish!)
We often think about how rewarding it is to be a teacher. But don't forget how rewarding it is to be a student, too. Put yourself in their shoes!
Podcasts, endorsements, and reviews – oh my!
We're humbled and thrilled by all the support this past week for the new book, Powerful Teaching: Unleash the Science of Learning. A few highlights:
Featured on the newest podcast episode from the Cult of Pedagogy
"The best teaching book to read" from the Learning & the Brain blog
Five 5-star reviews on Amazon in just one week!
Nearly 200 powerful teachers in our Facebook group
Book selfies galore on Twitter at #powerfulteaching
Get involved! Listen, read, review, and join. We can spread the word, but only you have the power to unleash the science of learning in your classroom.