The Driver’s Seat

Today’s children know their rights. They seem to have an opinion about everything. When I was growing up I was taught to be submissive. To listen more and speak less. So how do I train a child who is just not like me and doesn’t share my values and ideologies. Just like Rabindranath Tagore says “Don’t limit a child to your own learning for he was born in another time. How can you effectively help this generation truly born in another time”?

The answer is in implementing a student-centred approach in your classroom. This means taking a step back and letting the learners own the learning process. It means holding back and drawing it out from them. Easier said than done. Having a student-centred class rooms requires skills and strategies

First it starts with a change of perspective. It is about the teacher wanting to share ownership with students. Knowing that your students are not blank slates but are a mixture of talent, creativity and knowledge.

It might mean a reorganisation of the class so that students are stilling and working in groups.

It might mean a re-inventing of your teaching style so that you use more participatory teaching approaches.

Whatever you do it about students taking the lead and taking ownership.