I love the old Shaker hymn, "Simple Gifts". (In fact, I've entered it into this year's Poetry Madness tournament.) When I went in search of inspiration to Jane's Science class on Friday, I didn't expect to be reminded of the hymn, but I was. For 15 minutes, I watched her teach in her elegantly simple manner. She has the "gift" the Shakers spoke of -- the gift of being clear, quiet, precise, and calm.
These are some simple (and instructive) pedagogical things I noticed:
* students coming into the room in a teenagerish way (laughing, sauntering, slouching, etc.) and then slowly settling down in silence, on their own, when they saw the teacher getting ready to begin;
* the teacher ringing a soft bell once (obviously to announce the start of class) and then starting immediately;
* the teacher always speaking slowly and very clearly, sometimes changing tone and volume to gain an effect;
* Olivia Mortrude (and many other students) literally staring at the teacher as she speaks;
* the teacher leaning over the desk and looking directly at a student as she answers his question;
* the teacher checking off the parts of the day's lesson, step by step, where it's clearly written on the white board;
* the teacher always remaining clear, quiet, precise, and calm.
It was apparent to me that Jane's students have been given a "simple gift" by being with her this year. She knows how to be straightforward and trouble-free during class, and she's obviously imparting that knowledge to the students. They're learning that they'll "come round right" if they stay clear, quiet, precise, and calm.
There was some "love and delight" in the 7th grade Science class yesterday, and I was glad to be there to enjoy it.
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