Teaching beyond research

Educational practices and ideas are constantly in limbo. It seems there is a better, faster and more efficient way of teaching created every several years. What Mat-Su educator hasn’t heard of Marzano, Randy Sprick, Anita Archer or Harry Wong? Throughout my career, I have been assured that many of these techniques are worthy of implementation.

One education theorist advised me to teach like my hair is on fire. That’s both dangerous and painful.

How long do we really have to wait for Superman? I mean, he’s faster than a speeding bullet. Shouldn’t he be here by now? Maybe we should shop for a better bargain like Batman or Wonder Woman?

I freely admit I was pretty excited about Harry Wong’s “The First Days of School.” That is, until I got to week two. Apparently, there’s no sequel titled “The Rest of the Year.”

All of these and many other approaches to education have their merits, no doubt about it.

I realize, though, that the most important trait of good teaching is successfully interacting with students. Being with-it, being in touch and building trust and confidence so students will work for you is the elusive trait that all of us know but have a hard time neatly packaging for someone else to mimic. Educational research can assist a good teacher, but I don’t think it can make one.

Recently, a respected administrator told me that he could tell within the first few days if a student teacher would make it in the field of education.

Everyone recognizes that there is an inherent “it” factor that exists in certain teachers, but we seldom acknowledge that fact because it is hard to teach or quantify. We know it is there, but we struggle to export it. It’s much easier to hand someone a book about innovative techniques than to help them become dynamic teachers.

Solely focusing on the next big idea in education will not get us any closer to the ultimate goal of greater student success. Once we readily admit that “with-it-ness” exists, we can start tackling the more difficult challenges of how to develop charisma, rapport, and how to relate to students.

John Notestine teaches English at Mat-Su Career and Technical High School.