Teachers can leave old ways behind and embrace change
A NEW academic year is about to begin. Some schoolchildren may be thrilled to reunite with friends and gain new knowledge while others may wish the holidays would never end. What about teachers? Are they geared up for the challenges and adventures awaiting them?
With the revised standard curriculum taking effect next year, teachers are expected to apply new pedagogical approaches on Year One and Form One students who, hopefully, will enjoy the new learning experience.
This implementation is vital in producing independent, cooperative and resilient learners who are aware about real-world situations and ready to face them.
To make this implementation work, schools may hold sessions with students, parents and teachers to inform and explain the changes in the curriculum.
Parents may ask questions, voice opinions or make suggestions.
Change is inevitable. As Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw once said: “Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”
While we are preparing students to compete in a global world, we need to keep up with new teaching methods recommended by researchers and academicians.
In this way, not only students will be academically excellent, but they will also be shaped into well-mannered and talented individuals.
Truth be told, children want to learn. Those who continue to lose focus in classrooms, fail to complete homework, play truant and have little respect for others are neither knowledge haters nor useless learners.
These problematic students yearn for thoughtful and tactful teachers who are willing to make time and discuss problems and solutions.
When a teacherstudent relationship is forged, students will learn to listen, respect, behave and love others.
Educating children is not a piece of cake, nor is it a hard nut to crack. There are learners who may be the apple of a teacher’s eye and there may be bad eggs who are difficult to manage.
There are days when teachers celebrate successes, and there are bad days too. But doesn’t that make life balanced and bittersweet?
Gone are the days when teachers dominated teaching and learning sessions while students were spoonfed, with the hope that the latter would understand the lesson, finish their homework and pass examinations.
Students were mentally exhausted and tortured for the sake of getting good grades.
It is not about preserving traditional methods with teachers writing on blackboards and explaining facts and figures anymore.
Rather, it is about students discovering learning purposes, working cooperatively, considering suggestions, expressing thoughts, identifying values and applying solutions and strategies in real life.
It is time to leave repetitive and rigorous teaching methods and apply revolutionary styles as we hope to produce visionary, exemplary and exploratory learners with a future-centric way of thinking.
True teachers are smart thinkers. They will not ignore slow learners. They stay motivated to educate the de-motivated.
And they guide learners who lose their way.
Teaching is an eye-opening journey. It helps teachers to look on the bright side and become reflective individuals.