Teach kids, not content

Hello,
In this discussion, we will take a look at the topic : Teach Kids, Not Content.

Most teachers are busily teaching Contents instead of teaching kids. So we often here statements like this child has problem with understanding English.

We are teachers not because we have a plethora of Content. These kids are not interested in our knowledge base or what we know. They don't care which University we attended. They are not interested in our numerous skills. They don't even care whether we have Certificates, Diploma, Degree or Masters.

Then what do they care about?

Children care for skills that will propel them into achieving greatness. Children what to know the how and how things are done or not done.

Children want their teachers to go beyond the Curriculum.  They expect their teachers to be extra- ordinary.  They want their teachers to be innovative, Creative and resilient.

Children care about the future and what the future has for them. They care about how to simplify what the curriculum asks us to teach. They care about how to do things easily without any difficulty. They care about how to make them fit to live and lived with. This is what kids care about.

So for instance, instead of a teacher teaching children that a Noun is the name of a person,  an animal, a place or a thing. This teacher can encourage children to discover for themselves what a Noun is.

Here is how.
1. First the teacher ask learners to list names of persons. E. g. Mensah, Moses, Mohammed, Daniel, Yaw, Philomina, Mercy, Serwa, etc.

2. Teacher asks learners to list names of places.  E.g. Accra, Swedru, Tamale, Kumasi, Takoradi, Ho, etc

3. Teacher also ask learners to list names of things. E.g pen, book, pin, etc.

4. Then teacher also ask learners to list names of animals. E.g. dog, goat, fish, cat, etc.

The teacher then tells learners that the names of things, the names of animals,  the names of persons, the names of places, etc are all names. These names also means nouns.

Children want to learn what we know in an environment better than what we learnt from.  They want to be cared, guarded and guided to achieve their dreams and aspirations.

So this will make it easier for learners to define and explain the meaning of nouns.

Children want their teachers to go beyond the Curriculum.  They expect their teachers to be extra- ordinary.  They want their teachers to be innovative, Creative and resilient.

So the next time we move into the classroom, it is not our business to tell them what we know or think, but to allow them some time, some guidance to think and bring out what they believe or understand.

Interestingly,
Nobody want to read what doesn't interest him or her.  Even teachers read books that they believe will help them. Our children can think. They are ready to think beyond our imagination. The only problem is that we don't give them the chance.  Our education is based on what "some" people believe and not what they children really need. Our children have needs. They want to be free. They want to explore the environment and bring out their hidden potentials. It is time we give them the chance. The chance to tell us what they believe in. What most people have failed to realised is that today's child is totally different from yesterday's child. Yesterday's method of teaching may not work for today's child. The world is moving at a faster rate. Let me stop here for now.....