If a teacher has a stellar year in the classroom, and they know it, would it behoove them to simply recreate that year for the next year's group of students? That makes no sense. Just like professional sports teams adjust schemes, plans, and methods from year to year to remain competitive, so must the Christian school teacher.
In many unfortunate cases, veteran teachers are often doing nothing more than repeating what they have done for several years, showing no innovation.
One of the greatest temptations a teacher will have thrust his way is to teach year two, similarly to year one, and then again in year three, four, five, and so on, at least as far as the use of instructional methods and the way he engages students. That is not always a bad thing, of course, but this should not supersede being creative, flexible, and willing to adjust to the needs of the students.
No two years are alike with students. No two students are alike so you would never teach the exact same way from student one to student two and you should not teach the exact same way from year one to year two.
No two years are alike with students, nor should they be with how lessons are taught and how a teacher communicates with her students.
A 20-year teacher might be teaching the same way over and over, making them a teacher of 20 “year one experiences.”
We hope you catch our "drift." DON’T DRIFT as a teacher. Work hard, year in and year out to make your classroom --- not a repeat of last year --- but a whole new exciting experience for the hearts and minds of your students. That is teaching!
If you’re a principal, it is your job to observe, correct, guide, and encourage every teacher on your staff to stay the course, which… involves working diligently to make every year new and refreshing, and not just a repeat of the previous year for the sake of ease, or ill-planning. Great teachers make great schools. Great schools produce great students of truth. Isn’t that what you want after all? © by SchoolRIGHT, LLC., unless otherwise specified. All rights reserved.
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