06/14/2024
Summer time provides an opportunity to reflect on the school year. For me, it's also the best time to write about my experiences as a teacher. Here's a short passage about the importance of neutrality in teaching from my current project "Be a Toad Teacher."
"Sitting on the floor was not a unique experience. My classroom was such that I would often let students sit on the floor with a clipboard or even lay on the floor to complete their work. This meant that when I noticed that someone needed redirection, I would also sit or lay on the floor. Sitting or lying on the floor was a drastic change from what I was taught teachers should do, but embracing this unconventional approach to create a neutral relationship had an incredible impact on my students.
This simple act of physically lowering myself to their level extinguished their personal fires of defiance, fostering a sense of equality and trust. As a result, students who were once resistant and confrontational began to engage with learning for the first time, discovering a newfound enthusiasm and willingness to explore and understand."
