From "Sage On Stage" to "Guide on the Side"

Upon entering the field of education over 4 years ago, I was immediately brought back to memories of all the teachers I once had. The days of elementary school in the 80's where you were expected to sit still, in nice neat rows, and listen to the teacher throw information at you. I clearly remember daydreaming and looking out the window because I couldn't bare to hear it anymore. I was craving ACTION! PARTICIPATION! CONVERSATION! No, no, no, that would have to wait until recess or lunch. The teacher continued on with her long winded lesson on the Great Explorers as we followed helplessly along in our textbooks. The words would start blurring together as my head inched closer to the desk in hopes of a short nap. Who are these people we are reading about? Why did the come here? What were the name of the boats they came in? Then, next would come the dreaded worksheet that we would work on individually for what felt like an hour while the teacher sat at her desk "reading." This is not to say that all the teachers I had were focused on worksheets, lectures, textbooks, and drill-n-kill activities, however, there were certainly a few that made learning painful in my days. :)


Fast forward to the year 2006......I was ready to embark on my journey to becoming a teacher. I was initially fearful of this idea because of the thought of standing in front of a sea of children expected to be a HUMAN ENCYCLOPEDIA, oh and wearing a smock, handing out worksheets as spitballs were flying behind my back. Well, I'm happy to report that this fear was immediately squashed, when I applied to the Stanley British Primary Licensure Program for teachers. It was a relief to see that the role of an educator had in fact changed. No more "Sage on the Stage" instead it was more of a "Guide on the Side". This shift in the teachers role in the classroom has lead to all sorts of research on student motivation and implementation of best teaching practices. So my question to you today is, how do see teachers motivating students to learn in the year 2010?

Here are a few key motivators that can be used in any classroom to encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning:

* CHALLENGE THEM by asking "I wonder" questions
* Build on their strengths
* Offer Choices
* Use Rewards and Punishments with caution
* Build a classroom community that promotes risk taking
* Teach students how to set goals and self-evaluate
* Avoid "power struggles", don't control but guide
* Have clear expectations and rules generated by students
* Explain the objectives to lessons, the "whys?"
* Provide purposeful feedback and purposeful questions
* Celebrate student growth
* Incorporate technology
* Use cooperative learning groups

I have enjoyed my "Guide on the Side" role and hope you do to. Say goodbye to the days of the "Sage on the Stage"..... and with that said, Happy Learning!