Lead, Don't Lecture: A New Approach to Teaching
Smart educators say it's better to coach than to cajole.
by Ninive C. Calegari
This article was a wonderful reminder to me that, as an educator, it is important to think of my role as that of a classroom coach. I need to foster learning in the classroom through a series of meaningful learning experiences that allow students to be engaged and responsible for processing the lessons. In order to achieve a stronger sense of this, there needs to be a balance between whole group instruction and one-on one instruction, or coaching. The authors basically stress that in order for students to make meaning of their learning, they need to have true educational experiences, requiring them to think critically on a regular basis. To set up a classroom full of "experts", or "student experts", placing ownership of learning on the students, rather than the teacher alone, will foster a sense confidence in students that will only increase their motivation to learn more. This coaching strategy can also be viewed as a team-building tool that allows students to see each other as resources and call upon their classmates for support as needed.
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