Over the years, teacher has progressed from a very structured, in control type and become more of a facilitator than an expert because of the tremendous journey of learning they have gone on. Her skill that cannot be taken away is the gift of learning. Teacher could easily adopt when the lesson needs a more traditional or modern approach. The way she talks to children, the way she listens to them and simply the way she looks at her students could easily embed the lessons.
A teacher facilitates learning, facilitates an environment that allows the learner to feel comfortable, allows the learner to feel challenged, and allows the learner to try something more than they have already tried before. Through this, the learner continues to ask more questions, to push further along their own journey of learning continually asking more questions.
Asking questions on the different issues during discussions have a focus and a meaning to engage the learner in going further. Inquiry must have a structure. It must make sense to the learner. It helps the learner construct his or her own understanding. Through asking good questions and having students do the asking and discovering, there will be more learning going on in the classroom. It is allowing the students to wonder and ask, be engaged and go further along their own continuum of knowledge building. As more understanding occurs, more questions pop up wanting the learners to know.
Learning becomes alive for the pupils if they are creating something that is meaningful to them. If children are being asked to create a story about the things being happened in the community, they could easily use their senses to establish their own connections, ideas and viewpoints. These senses can be their guide to explore and create their own story. With this, other children will learn about the changes that continually take place in their lives. They will be able to see significance to what they are thinking and where the ideas are taking them. They can be able to make their own connections and create something meaningful for themselves.
By: Jennifer A. Quiroz | Master Teacher I | Cataning Elementary School
