Yesterday I spent more time than I can remember thinking about what kind of teacher I want to be. It started with Ilana Horn (@tchmathculture) posting a thoughtful writeup of Teach Like a Champion. If you haven't read it, stop, click on the link... and prepare to be disheartened. I couldn't finish the videos. Not surprisingly, it provoked quite a bit of conversation on Twitter. Mostly, I sat on the sidelines until David Coffey (@delta_dc) put out a cute little survey.
Many of the responses (at least the ones I remember) were something along the lines of teaching with a style that's true to yourself. What if you don't know what your style is? What if you don't like your style and you're trying to grow? I know being a "clone" isn't the acceptable answer--mostly because of the derogatory nature of the term. But I do want to teach like some of the people in the #MTBoS. If I could teach exactly like them for a couple weeks I think it would be really helpful.
When you first start any new endeavor you want to mimic the greats. I don't care if it's jazz, painting, or plumbing. You can't find your own style (and be good) until you understand the process and skills involved. Picasso was an excellent realism painter before he ventured into cubism. You have to know how to play by the rules before you can begin bending them. (More on Picasso here.)
We have all sorts of ways to refer to this in our culture: apprentice, learning from the masters, discipleship. I don't want to be a clone. I want to be an apprentice. I want to learn from the masters. I want to pattern my teaching after people who do it better than me. Only after I do my best to teach like them can find my own style.
When you first start any new endeavor you want to mimic the greats. I don't care if it's jazz, painting, or plumbing. You can't find your own style (and be good) until you understand the process and skills involved. Picasso was an excellent realism painter before he ventured into cubism. You have to know how to play by the rules before you can begin bending them. (More on Picasso here.)
We have all sorts of ways to refer to this in our culture: apprentice, learning from the masters, discipleship. I don't want to be a clone. I want to be an apprentice. I want to learn from the masters. I want to pattern my teaching after people who do it better than me. Only after I do my best to teach like them can find my own style.
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