Engaging Materials
Tools & Techniques

Engaging Materials

July 21, 2017 / By:

So now that you know “what” you are doing and “why”, we need to think about “how”.  You did some preliminary work in your Research.  The next step is to think about sequence of presentation, semantics, how you are going to illustrate your point, etc.  The answers to these questions will tell you what Materials you will need.  If you plan to write new words on a blackboard you will need chalk.  White or colored?  Or do you need markers for a whiteboard instead?  Or have you prepared the words on a PowerPoint and need to make sure your computer …

Lesson Planning – How Relevant Is It?
Tools & Techniques

Lesson Planning – How Relevant Is It?

July 14, 2017 / By:

While last time we talked about the importance of action, for a plan without action is merely a dream, it is equally important to appreciate that action without a plan can also be disastrous (and something we would diagnose as impulsive).  That is why nearly half my lesson plan is focused on the pre-planning part.  The following items of the paradigm make it a well-thought-out plan. Goal rationale Objective rationale Research Relevance If you have been following us until now, you know that having a curriculum is not a good enough rationale for what you teach (see What to Teach).  Your …

Are you a Dreamer or a Visionary?
Tools & Techniques

Are you a Dreamer or a Visionary?

July 7, 2017 / By:

What differentiates the dreamer from the visionary.  You may have heard “a goal”.  One of the most popular new professions is coaching.  People are hiring coaches to help them achieve their goals in many areas, be it business, health or relationships.  What is the job of these coaches?  To help the person create a viable plan of action.  However, a plan is merely a detailed dream.  One of the jobs of the coach is for the person to feel compelled to follow through on their plan with action.    An idea, goal or plan without execution is just a dream. …

Teaching vs. Education
Attitude

Teaching vs. Education

June 30, 2017 / By:

Teaching is about accomplishment, particularly academic accomplishment.  Education is about process and an understanding that we may be planting seeds for a process that may not sprout for years.  I have a fairly nice garden that I enjoy puttering around in very much.  For those of you who do not garden it might surprise you to learn that flower bulbs are planted in the fall for flowers such as hyacinths and tulips or even gladiolas which will only bloom the following year.  Fruit trees generally do not fruit for a few years (as fruit does not grow off the trunk …

What To Teach Part 2
Attitude

What To Teach Part 2

June 22, 2017 / By:

We discussed in an earlier post that both the teacher and student have responsibility in the learning process.  The teacher, as the successful climber at the top of (or at least higher up) the mountain knows what the student must learn.  Therefore, Timeless Teaching must have a double focus.         1) Just what is it that the student must know?                    2) How best to teach these skills? Just what is it that the student must know?  I have grouped the items into 4 categories Self-discipline What allows for …

Learner as the Listener
Knowledge

Learner as the Listener

June 21, 2017 / By:

In the last post (see here https://www.timeless-teaching.com/learning-its-a-communication-thing/ )we were discussing what the responsibility of the teacher as a communicator is.  But as we said, you can only facilitate learning, you cannot force anything. On the learner-listener’s part there has to be a willingness to listen and a desire to get it right. As a listener there are certain steps you want to take to try to improve successful communication. All these steps hold true for the learner-listener. They include: Being prepared – this may include readings, homework, etc. Be rested – listening is hard work, if you are tired you can’t listen …

Learning: It’s a Communication Thing
Knowledge

Learning: It’s a Communication Thing

June 18, 2017 / By:

First I think we need an understanding of what actually is occurring during teaching. Learning is a communicative event.  As any speech therapist can tell you, this means there is a speaker, a listener, and a message.  The presumption is that the teacher is the speaker, the student is the listener (we hope 😉 ) and the teaching you are trying to convey is the message.  In truth it must be a reciprocal relationship, hence the two arrows in the graphic.  The teacher must minimally spend enough time listening to effectively check for understanding, but I am getting ahead of …

Of Fidget Spinners and Fake Education
Mental Meanderings

Of Fidget Spinners and Fake Education

June 14, 2017 / By:

“Fidget spinners are going to enable ADHD students to focus” “Fidget spinners are creating ADHD and must be banned from school” At the time of this writing the owning of a fidget spinner has gone viral, and with hundreds of schools banning fidget spinners, it looks like the spinner ban will go viral soon too.  I must be missing a key piece of information because I do not understand the ban.  What is notably absent is the scientific research demonstrating either claim. But even more importantly the educational opportunity is being missed. Is there a physical danger to fidget spinners? …

What To Teach
Attitude

What To Teach

June 10, 2017 / By:

Is that really a question? You were given a curriculum! While this might seem to apply only to teachers, in fact this applies to parents too.  You may not be consciously aware of it but you have been given a curriculum by society on what your children must do at home by certain ages.  Items such as toilet training, bike riding, household chores, bathing, independent dressing etc. and the items and ages vary in different societies. (I can’t help but think that if we told society to speak a little slower, instead of diagnosing people with auditory processing disorder for …

Don’t Be A Pedagogue
Attitude

Don’t Be A Pedagogue

June 8, 2017 / By:

 It might seem strange to say that to teachers who spend years learning how to be one.  This is where education was first hijacked by a too narrow perspective. One of the most important ideas I learned from neurolinguistics programming (NLP) is how to find a good teacher.    Their definition of a good teacher is someone who not only can do the task well, but also knows HOW they do it. Obviously only someone who knows how to do a task can be considered to teach the skill to others.  If I want someone to teach me how to …