Effective Teachers Work Smart and Use Leverage to Move Students Forward.
December 16, 2009
Archimedes, the Greek mathematician who lived from 287 to 212 B.C. said, “Give me a lever and a place to stand, and I will move the earth.”
Leverage is “doing a lot with a little” and may be defined as the ability to influence a system, or an environment, in a way that multiplies the outcome of one’s efforts without a corresponding increase in the consumption of resources.
Leverage, from a teacher’s perspective, is having the ability to influence a student’s performance or behavior with little effort, which raises a question. How does one gain this ability? Answer. Through the use of ”The Class Compass,” a strategic model introduced during the initial class orientation. This new paradigm provides direction by making the student/teacher aware of the factors that move the class forward and those that hold it back.
However, models are not a panacea. We must be mindful when attempting to influence the learning curve of another. This is where leadership comes in. Leadership is an energy that others find interesting, enthusiastic, supportive and productive.
Tools, from a screw driver to a copy machine create efficiencies in our work. The “Circle of Education” is an awareness tool that provides leverage to teachers when attempting to adjust the classroom environment.
Comments
Got something to say?
