We’re All Teachers…How We Can Be Better

All my life I wanted to be a teacher. I was the girl who came home from school and taught her dolls and stuffed animals everything they needed to know about math and reading. I even took it upon myself to further my little sister’s education. It was a passion and a love, something natural, not learned.

At that time, my teaching was obviously all about imparting knowledge, not even expecting my little sister to really process information. As I became a teenager, I continued to teach. My first paying job was babysitting. That required being able to entertain as well as manage routines and procedures. I was also a tennis instructor for many years- this definitely required the ability to teach skills and strategies. At this point, I began to evaluate my teaching as the players’ performance on the court demonstrated understanding. Or not. Eventually I got an education degree and began teaching in a classroom. Naturally, I hoped my young students soaked up all the knowledge I tried to impart. Even when I paused my teaching career to stay home with my children, I continued to be a teacher. As a parent, once you start teaching, you never really stop! No matter who or what you’re teaching, we’re all teachers. How do we get good at it?

In February, Springer Learning Center will welcome Jared Cooney Horvath, PhD, MEd, as a keynote speaker for the Empowered Learner Conference. His book Stop Talking, Start Influencing discusses twelve scientific principles for imparting knowledge that truly impacts others. I do think we all need to understand the essential concepts and practical applications of neuroscience whether you teach in a classroom, parent or manage others. Who doesn’t want their message to stick?  

I’m currently about halfway through Jared’s book and it is fascinating to understand how the brain processes information. The book is easy to read and quite entertaining. Ever walk into a room and forget why you were going in there? Well, I finally learned why. (Hint, it’s called the doorway effect!) Even better, I now know how to remember what it is I was looking for! 

Now, I’m reading about multitasking. Well, it turns out that we can’t do this effectively, or really at all. I thought I was pretty good at it! And, it’s so much a part of our lives these days, particularly with technology. Our brains can only focus on one thing at a time. Turns out, we do a lot of “task switching” in our daily lives. Jared’s research and insight reinforces the idea that if we focus on one task at a time we will be more productive as well as improving our learning and mental well-being. Seems like something teachers and parents alike could learn from!

by Jen Brooke, educator
Center Program Coordinator, Springer Learning Center