Articulate
I love baseball. I've played, I've watched, and I've coached a lot of baseball in my few years on the planet Earth. And I always want more. What amazes me the most about baseball is every ball player is still a learner. Even the pros. No one that plays the game is done practicing, honing their skills, tweaking their stance, or strengthening their arm. Players get constant feedback from their coaches, their teammates, and through video tape, even themselves. But coaches can only give proper feedback if they have a good plan. That plan is often individualized for each player. They consider a player's strengths and weaknesses, but at the same time, consider what team they will be facing today. Sometimes the best laid plans need to be changed depending on the outcome of an at bat or an inning. Do you see where I'm going with this or do I have to explain the metaphor?
Teaching is coaching. And you can't teach without a well thought out plan. As a teacher I need to articulate that plan carefully. I need to make clear what I want students know, understand, and do. I need to give students clear targets and scales so that they see what skills that are good at and the others they need to work on. Just like coaching baseball; I need to help move students from where they are to where I want them to be.
Teaching is coaching. And you can't teach without a well thought out plan. As a teacher I need to articulate that plan carefully. I need to make clear what I want students know, understand, and do. I need to give students clear targets and scales so that they see what skills that are good at and the others they need to work on. Just like coaching baseball; I need to help move students from where they are to where I want them to be.