"[E]ffective teachers are masters of their subject, can organize and emphasize, can clarify ideas and point out relationships, can motivate students, and are reasonable, open, concerned, and imaginative human beings" (Seldin, 1991, p. 1).
Part of Freire's passion in his teaching approach revolves around the idea of mutual humanization. As a teacher, my efforts to humanize do not stop with my students--I seek to become humanized as well. Part of this process is helping my students understand that I, too, have flaws. Whether I am in front of the class, in a student-conference, or engaging in a class Facebook discussion, I do not hide those flaws.
Sometimes I make spelling mistakes or mispronounce words in a discussion. Rather than becoming embarrassed, I laugh with my students. I cannot expect my students to receive my suggestions and evaluations if I close myself to their suggestions and evaluations.
In order to become reasonable and open, I solicit my students' advice throughout the semester. Sometimes it is an anonymous free-write or online survey, and other times it's an open discussion in class. One of my professors called these "Learning Logs." He believes, as do I, that the teaching process is more similar to writing than we acknowledge. The best writing and teaching does not happen in isolation after one draft. We must try, then revise, then collaborate, then revise, then try again. Neither teaching nor writing is a linear process, and being open to others' opinions, including my students', will make me a better teacher.
Sometimes I make spelling mistakes or mispronounce words in a discussion. Rather than becoming embarrassed, I laugh with my students. I cannot expect my students to receive my suggestions and evaluations if I close myself to their suggestions and evaluations.
In order to become reasonable and open, I solicit my students' advice throughout the semester. Sometimes it is an anonymous free-write or online survey, and other times it's an open discussion in class. One of my professors called these "Learning Logs." He believes, as do I, that the teaching process is more similar to writing than we acknowledge. The best writing and teaching does not happen in isolation after one draft. We must try, then revise, then collaborate, then revise, then try again. Neither teaching nor writing is a linear process, and being open to others' opinions, including my students', will make me a better teacher.