The more I know, the more I
grow...
Theory
and practice must hold hands, this is the principal idea from Freire´s last
words. Growing and knowledge have to do the same in students’ lives. Is not
possible to grow without any dose of knowledge as the similar way as is not
possible to know without any sign of growth. Growth in any sense. We as
teachers can measure students´ development with grades and numbers but what
about their personal growth? The way they behave, think, show their emotions
and create relationships with the teacher are important to emphasize too.
Going
back to the practice, I do not how many times I have said “sense of
possibility” to my students. It does not matter the amount of examples I have
shown, they have to experience those values to comprehend their real meaning.
Here it remains the “practice” of Freire´s
words.
Talking
about the theoretical knowledge, is necessary to promote critical-thinking in
order to generate curious and hungry students for new knowledge. We the teachers
making presence in front of the classroom spend most of the time presenting
topics and the knowledge we pretend to transmit to the students. When it is
students´ turn to discover and share new things with the rest of the classroom,
it is incredible the level of their works.
I
sent invitations to parents of my “research and methodology workshop” class to
be present at their sons´ final projects reports. Students had the theory
needed to follow the scientific method and put it into practice creating their
own project. They chose interesting problems from their communities to be
investigated. At the end of the presentations I listened to parents who had no idea
how incredible their sons could be, some could not believe the quality of
projects they saw and some others said they have never been invited to see the
works of their sons.
Joining
the theory and practice my students follow to create their projects and adding
the recognition from their parents, and the change in students´ confidence and
attitude they showed there are no more words to say:
I
know how hard it is, but my sense of possibility reminds me every minute that
in this process I will get a reward at the end of the day. I am learning and
growing as the same way my students do.
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario