Comments on: Never under-estimate what your students can teach you! (by Berni Wall) http://www.teachingvillage.org/2010/05/18/never-under-estimate-what-your-students-can-teach-you-by-berni-wall/ We're better when we work together Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:18:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Berni Wall http://www.teachingvillage.org/2010/05/18/never-under-estimate-what-your-students-can-teach-you-by-berni-wall/comment-page-1/#comment-4333 Berni Wall Sun, 30 Jan 2011 17:52:56 +0000 http://www.teachingvillage.org/?p=1702#comment-4333 Thank you Amy for your comment. I love the quotation - it's very apt and is exactly how we should think as teachers about what we do. Berni Thank you Amy for your comment. I love the quotation – it’s very apt and is exactly how we should think as teachers about what we do.
Berni

]]> By: Amy http://www.teachingvillage.org/2010/05/18/never-under-estimate-what-your-students-can-teach-you-by-berni-wall/comment-page-1/#comment-2980 Amy Fri, 04 Jun 2010 07:56:29 +0000 http://www.teachingvillage.org/?p=1702#comment-2980 Lovely post Berni! Very inspirational. I thinks the other way around works fine too: Never over-estimate what your students can learn with you. (na, doesn't sound so inspirational : ) I picked a quote out of my pocket that I thought would go along well with your first three paragraphs. "We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean, but the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. We can do no great things, only small things with great love." - Mother Teresa Lovely post Berni! Very inspirational.

I thinks the other way around works fine too: Never over-estimate what your students can learn with you. (na, doesn’t sound so inspirational : )

I picked a quote out of my pocket that I thought would go along well with your first three paragraphs.

“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean, but the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” – Mother Teresa

]]> By: Berni Wall http://www.teachingvillage.org/2010/05/18/never-under-estimate-what-your-students-can-teach-you-by-berni-wall/comment-page-1/#comment-2620 Berni Wall Thu, 20 May 2010 08:49:40 +0000 http://www.teachingvillage.org/?p=1702#comment-2620 Thank you for your comment Marisa. You are right about teaching helping us to be more open-minded and open-mindedness is the best state for learning. I know when I teach that I probably do know more about English than many of my students - that's why they are there, but I learn a lot about English through hearing about their languages and how they work and what the relationships are within languages and even when they are like chalk and cheese to each other. This informs my teaching and I hope makes it better! I suppose teaching can be very cathartic and in some fields it can be heart-wrenching and very difficult but what it is or should never be, is about us - the teacher. Thank you for your comment Marisa.

You are right about teaching helping us to be more open-minded and open-mindedness is the best state for learning.

I know when I teach that I probably do know more about English than many of my students – that’s why they are there, but I learn a lot about English through hearing about their languages and how they work and what the relationships are within languages and even when they are like chalk and cheese to each other. This informs my teaching and I hope makes it better!

I suppose teaching can be very cathartic and in some fields it can be heart-wrenching and very difficult but what it is or should never be, is about us – the teacher.

]]> By: Berni Wall http://www.teachingvillage.org/2010/05/18/never-under-estimate-what-your-students-can-teach-you-by-berni-wall/comment-page-1/#comment-2619 Berni Wall Thu, 20 May 2010 08:42:39 +0000 http://www.teachingvillage.org/?p=1702#comment-2619 Lovely story David! I think as new teachers we feel we have to be in charge and the traditional role of teacher is as you describe, at the front with all the answers. I think it is a sign of maturity when we realise that others (even the very young) have even better answers than we do. I agree that we learn every day as a teacher and what can be more wonderful that that! Enjoy your day :-) Lovely story David!

I think as new teachers we feel we have to be in charge and the traditional role of teacher is as you describe, at the front with all the answers. I think it is a sign of maturity when we realise that others (even the very young) have even better answers than we do.

I agree that we learn every day as a teacher and what can be more wonderful that that!

Enjoy your day :-)

]]> By: Marisa Pavan http://www.teachingvillage.org/2010/05/18/never-under-estimate-what-your-students-can-teach-you-by-berni-wall/comment-page-1/#comment-2612 Marisa Pavan Wed, 19 May 2010 02:54:24 +0000 http://www.teachingvillage.org/?p=1702#comment-2612 Great anecdotes, Berni! I agree with you that teaching is a learning experience. In general, my students have helped me become open-minded and tolerant. As teachers, we learn to accept diversity and to understand that each person has their own internal rythm. Teaching is also a way of releasing the mind from trouble. It happens to me that when I'm teaching, I forget about all and concentrate on the class. I'm thankful as this profession has allowed me to overcome difficulties. Regards, Marisa Pavan Great anecdotes, Berni! I agree with you that teaching is a learning experience.
In general, my students have helped me become open-minded and tolerant. As teachers, we learn to accept diversity and to understand that each person has their own internal rythm.
Teaching is also a way of releasing the mind from trouble. It happens to me that when I’m teaching, I forget about all and concentrate on the class. I’m thankful as this profession has allowed me to overcome difficulties.
Regards,
Marisa Pavan

]]> By: David http://www.teachingvillage.org/2010/05/18/never-under-estimate-what-your-students-can-teach-you-by-berni-wall/comment-page-1/#comment-2610 David Tue, 18 May 2010 23:29:24 +0000 http://www.teachingvillage.org/?p=1702#comment-2610 Great stories! I think you highlight how we as teachers should be "open" to change/learning within our own classrooms. That we should be humble enough to say -- "hey, you students know this (something) better than I do!". No posturing but being mature enough to let go..... I learned that lesson too far along my learning curve. I was teaching Grade 8 ESL. Teaching like I always did, like my teachers had taught me, from the front, book in hand. Explain, do the exercises. However, one day I was teaching Algebra. Basic stuff but I didn't know it well and it showed. For some reason I gave the chalk to Jasmine, one of my Iranian students who the other students looked up to. Wow! She just captivated them, explaining, chalk flying. So I decided to just step back, drink my coffee and get to know my students as Jasmine taught. (of course, never telling a soul on the staff!!!!). We learn so much in teaching - even that sometimes we know so little. Thanks for the great read and start to my day ..... stories speaking so loud. David Great stories! I think you highlight how we as teachers should be “open” to change/learning within our own classrooms. That we should be humble enough to say — “hey, you students know this (something) better than I do!”. No posturing but being mature enough to let go…..

I learned that lesson too far along my learning curve. I was teaching Grade 8 ESL. Teaching like I always did, like my teachers had taught me, from the front, book in hand. Explain, do the exercises. However, one day I was teaching Algebra. Basic stuff but I didn’t know it well and it showed. For some reason I gave the chalk to Jasmine, one of my Iranian students who the other students looked up to. Wow! She just captivated them, explaining, chalk flying. So I decided to just step back, drink my coffee and get to know my students as Jasmine taught. (of course, never telling a soul on the staff!!!!).

We learn so much in teaching – even that sometimes we know so little.

Thanks for the great read and start to my day ….. stories speaking so loud.

David

]]> By: Berni Wall http://www.teachingvillage.org/2010/05/18/never-under-estimate-what-your-students-can-teach-you-by-berni-wall/comment-page-1/#comment-2609 Berni Wall Tue, 18 May 2010 22:20:14 +0000 http://www.teachingvillage.org/?p=1702#comment-2609 Hey Willy thank you for your comment! You are right it's always a two-way process! I really love your quotation from Mother Theresa - exactly what I was trying to say only she is more eloquent! Hey Willy thank you for your comment! You are right it’s always a two-way process!
I really love your quotation from Mother Theresa – exactly what I was trying to say only she is more eloquent!

]]> By: Willy C. Cardoso http://www.teachingvillage.org/2010/05/18/never-under-estimate-what-your-students-can-teach-you-by-berni-wall/comment-page-1/#comment-2607 Willy C. Cardoso Tue, 18 May 2010 21:23:33 +0000 http://www.teachingvillage.org/?p=1702#comment-2607 Lovely post Berni! Very inspirational. I thinks the other way around works fine too: Never over-estimate what your students can learn with you. (na, doesn't sound so inspirational : ) I picked a quote out of my pocket that I thought would go along well with your first three paragraphs. "We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean, but the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. We can do no great things, only small things with great love." - Mother Teresa Lovely post Berni! Very inspirational.

I thinks the other way around works fine too: Never over-estimate what your students can learn with you. (na, doesn’t sound so inspirational : )

I picked a quote out of my pocket that I thought would go along well with your first three paragraphs.

“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean, but the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” – Mother Teresa

]]> By: Berni Wall http://www.teachingvillage.org/2010/05/18/never-under-estimate-what-your-students-can-teach-you-by-berni-wall/comment-page-1/#comment-2603 Berni Wall Tue, 18 May 2010 14:22:49 +0000 http://www.teachingvillage.org/?p=1702#comment-2603 Thank you Christina, it was my pleasure and I love your maxim! All teachers should keep it as their mantra! Thank you Christina, it was my pleasure and I love your maxim! All teachers should keep it as their mantra!

]]> By: Berni Wall http://www.teachingvillage.org/2010/05/18/never-under-estimate-what-your-students-can-teach-you-by-berni-wall/comment-page-1/#comment-2602 Berni Wall Tue, 18 May 2010 14:21:45 +0000 http://www.teachingvillage.org/?p=1702#comment-2602 Hi Vicki and thank you for your comment. Sounds like a very good idea! Hi Vicki and thank you for your comment. Sounds like a very good idea!

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