Spark

We are born learners.

Quite literally wired to receive, retrieve, interpret, store, and respond to data, the students I encounter have been learning long before I, the teacher, step into their lives. Knowing this, I don't place much emphasis on what students cannot do or how they do it differently. 

I do notice. Gaps, deviation, hesitation, comprehension, articulation... these things matter, of course, and I note them, but I don't focus on them. 

Instead, I scan their faces for that twinkle in the eye, the lifted brow, or the slightest hint of an upturned corner of the mouth. I look for the spark, the energy, the light students exude when something resonates. This is the real information I need. This is where we will connect. This is the point from which I can tug. And I will.



Noted psychologist, researcher, and author, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (1934-2021), taught that interest is the entry point for focus. "If you are interested in something, you will focus on it, and if you focus attention on anything, it is likely that you will become interested in it." 


Though I revere the title of teacher, my approach is closer to that of a coach. Students naturally learn. Therefore, my primary goal is to find the flicker, to help students optimize their process-flint into flare-and most importantly, to never do anything to dampen that flame.



Credit: Photo from CLD Electric, San Diego


Comments

  1. C. CasedayJuly 1, 2025 at 9:51 PM

    Robin I love what you acknowledged here about all of us being learners. That spark is the fruit of life, sharing it is a gift and a calling. You are very well suited to this and I enjoy your experience and articulation on theory of teaching and how it applies to the students and the classroom.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Olivia DirksJuly 7, 2025 at 12:34 PM

    I absolutely love that you stated that your approach is closer to that of a coach. You allow your students to learn naturally, and you are there to guide them along the way, and to help them find their motivation. "Never do anything to dampen that flame." I absolutely love this, YES!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Robin WhitakerJuly 21, 2025 at 4:32 PM

      YES! It's my teaching motto. Thank you for sharing, Olivia!

      Delete
  3. Frances A. DavisJuly 28, 2025 at 2:40 PM

    Love love love this!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Spat

Image
  Tragic!   He's overly confident, assuming he can charm his way back into her heart.    Meanwhile, she's planning to rip his out and feed it to the wolves.  Is there any hope of reconciliation?  Can this relationship be saved?  Sadly, these misunderstandings are more common than necessary.  Scenes like this, and far worse, play out every day, maybe multiple times a day. It doesn't have to be this way.  Every interaction is an opportunity to connect, to strengthen, and to build.  Yet, many lack the skills. Conversation Connection Conflict Curiosity Compassion Contempt Criticism   My high school students are highly engaged in lessons and activities on this topic.  They genuinely want to learn, practice, and perfect these skills.   Until now, I have always woven these lessons throughout the usual  Social Studies and ELA content.  Encouraged by student interest and my desire to foster mutually beneficial ...
Read more

News

Image
"That's a hard wurd. I don't know what that means."  Six-year-old Philip replies as he moves to inspect a rock that caught his eye.  I had asked if he enjoys "Journalism." Later, we inspect the pages of  Flotsam, a delightful book by David Wiesner.  I had asked Philip if he could figure out what was happening by looking at the pictures. "There are no words," I caution.  Intrigued, he hurried to open the book. Nothing else matters. Challenge accepted. Here are some of the pictures Philip scanned. As we volley questions, his desire to uncover what had been uncovered by the boy on the beach captivates Philip. He looks for clues. He points out details. He considers possibilities and tosses them aside as evidence disproves them. He compares, contrasts, and connects. And when, like a wave, the story washes over his mind, he reports it to me with gleeful satisfaction. "Excellent journalism!" I praise as our palms slap together in high-five-fa...
Read more