Skype Chat- 26/02/2020 and Finding some light at the end of the tunnel

Another week has flown by meaning that it was time for a group discussion on skype.

Now if I’m honest I think this has been my hardest week to date of this course. I have been unbelievably busy with my work schedule and the preparation work that goes along side this. As we approach summer show term I’m sure other teachers will understand the manic schedules! On top of this I found myself completely lost with this course. I couldn’t work out what I should be doing, what I should be reading let alone contemplate starting my essay assignment. Feeling lost is not something I am comfortable with and it’s the first time that I have really felt on a “distant” learning course. So this chat came at the perfect time!

Although we weren’t told exactly what to write or what is classed as right and wrong on this course, talking with other students gave me an idea if I was on the right track. I think that’s the hardest thing sometimes- the self doubt! An American Poet called Sylvia Plath once said “The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt” (Plath & Kukil, 2000). This is so true! If you doubt yourself, how will you ever develop your creativeness? How will accidently find something interesting to research if you weren’t able to take a risk with a reading choice? 

Self doubt is something that I find can creep in when teaching. The constant thinking- would another teacher do it like this? Am I teaching the routine correctly? Do my students learn anything from my class? This is where I need to trust in my work. Trust that I have been trained correctly. Trust my direction and trust those around me.

Trust is something we spoke about in the skype call. The fact that we have to put trust into something even if we are unsure where we are going with it. An example of this was when the Wigan Warriors Rugby team were taken into a dance studio and told they were going to do ballet. Were they told why they were going to do it or did they trust their coach that it was all for a greater good? Trust is such a key step within a teaching relationship, but knowledge is just as powerful. If students know the relevance behind something, they are more likely to apply it to their work. In regards to these Rugby players, the aim of this ballet class was to gain strength, flexibility but also discipline and patience. These transferable skills are so important for development in life and for them would improve their Rugby.

Another point we spoke about was some different teaching approaches. This is something that I have now looked into more and have started exploring the reasoning behind my different approaches. The approach a teacher can take when teaching can affect students differently and as a result create impact them in different ways.

This chat has given me the re-boost I needed. I am now going to look outside the box and trust my instincts. It’s time to get rid of that doubt!

Bibliography

Plath, S., & Kukil, K. V. (2000). The Unabridged Journals of Slyvia Plath. Anchor.