Guess what?  This week I have already begun basically “prepping” for my American Government & Politics class this fall! And as we think about all of the daily events, quotes, policies and wars being debated across the nation and world… I totally realized that I really don’t’ have to do a whole lot of in depth research! However in an unusual kind of way… I started thinking about my style of teaching and what would I say is my teaching philosophy today… and what could I change to be better in the future?

Well my answer to this question creatively generated this week’s TRIPLE III TIME message: Everyday Is A Classroom!

What do I mean?

First think about the two-way learning that occurs when you go to a hardware store to get “stuff” to help you build something. The customer service rep is the teacher about what products you need and how to proceed. You are first the student getting necessary information… but you are also teaching the customer service rep about the uniqueness of the special table you are constructing.

Everyday Is A Classroom

Next think about working/volunteering in a human service capacity. Every time a different person comes through the door… their situation/problems are totally different and you are the listening student. But then again the roles become reversed as you instruct the person on self-sufficiency and steps to improve their personal issues.

Everyday Is A Classroom

Finally, think about children. Do you stop talking and apply the best listening skills you have to clearly hear THEIR concerns/ideas/simplicity views? Do you allow yourself to absorb their non-inhibited points-of-view and appreciate the fact that they feel safe to talk with you? And then as you take on the teaching job…do you help them understand that they/we have so much to learn growing up? Do you explain that YOU still like to keep on learning from them and others?

Everyday Is A Classroom

Bottomline: I don’t know if I have a simple teaching philosophy I could easily explain… except that I follow an: Everyday Is A Classroom two-way learning style. I believe it keeps me engaged and aware. And it helps me tell each class: “No one is going to cheat us out of having a good time.”