There isn't anything worse than being presented with information without being told why. And I am not sure if this is a newly developed need in the role of the learner, but I can vouch for myself when I reflect back on my college classes. The frustration I felt as I sat in the cramped classrooms being talked at without the reason is imprinted on my mind so deeply I can never erase it.
In recent conversations with my close friends and husband, I have been discussing the shift in my perspective on higher level education. Holding an undergrad in English - my stance previously only rested on that coursework for which I have an unbalanced love/hate relationship. Marrying a man who is an avid learner holding five degrees and completing his PhD, I peered behind the graduate level curtain and now see the beauty in pursuing a passion through a graduate level program.
In my third year teaching and first year teaching Gifted & Talented, a colleague and I sat at Starbucks to collaborate and discuss the nuances of the GT audience. We didn't talk about rigor or the texts, we discussed the approach. She expressed to me that she provided a purpose statement at the top of summative assessments.
The act of giving the Why from the jump appealed to me greatly. I realized I constantly thought of the Why behind all I do for my students, but transferring the thought into a statement accessible to my students completely transformed my voice as a teacher and by extension my own understanding of voice.
No longer was the Why an illusive concept - it was there up front conveying the following:
1. There is purpose behind what is being asked of my students.
2. My thought process is evident; therefore, my level of care is evident.
3. Students play a part of the direction and trajectory of our focus.
4. We avoid any misunderstandings for our end goal.
I view my role as an educator through the lens of discovering voice. By extension, my work in and out of the classroom centers on the exploration of my voice. If I expect my students to be constantly pushing their own understanding of their voice, shouldn't I challenge myself on the same premise? At what point do we "find our voice"? Or do we?
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