Saturday Sayings: Borrow Wisely

 

While my least favorite educational word is fidelity, my favorite is most definitely pedagogy. Although I'm likely pronouncing its third syllable incorrectly, it feels like I'm talking about something special when I speak that word. Considering the definition, I'd say I'm right. 

Pedagogy is indeed a big deal. Methods and practices are a foundation for most everything a teacher does in the classroom regardless of experience. Even our newest members to the profession have a pedagogy. In fact, they have one long before a stamp of approval lands on that teaching certificate. 

So where does this pedagogy come from? 

That's been my question of the week. I devised my own hypothesis based on 22 years of teaching, and then I tried out my question on my nephew Kyle, who is at the opposite end of the teaching spectrum with about a month of student teaching to go. (By the way, he's going to be brilliant in the classroom, and I'm not just saying that because I'm Aunt Tammy.) When answering my question, he talked about past teachers, college courses, and great teachers he's currently surrounded by. Basically, his answer confirmed what I'd been thinking all along. 

We borrow pedagogy.  

It might be an oversimplification, but I know I borrowed pedagogy before I had my own classroom and 22 years later, I'm still borrowing new practices and methods. Gatekeepers though are unafraid to turn things way, so we have a responsibility to the children in our keep to examine pedagogy with a critical eye. I also believe we have a responsibility to help our new teachers develop this skill. Although I believe Kyle is already thinking like a gatekeeper, I hope our newest teachers don't tire of us reminding them to borrow wisely. It might possibly be some of the best advice we can give.