THINK…teachers are the worse students

like doctors are the worse patients…

Well, I’m trying not to be a bad student, not to be too critical or demanding. I am fully aware of my ignorance in everything that has to do with painting techniques. Although, I can’t ignore my 15 years teaching experience from which I see beyond the good intentions my teacher has in trying to transmit her knowledge.

Teaching isn’t solely about good intentions, you know!

It’s about having a plan. It’s about timing.

It’s about knowing HOW TO TEACH WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW HOW TO DO.

So, besides doing my best to find a sequence, a process from the isolated bits of information I’m getting in my oil painting class, I am discovering some valuable elements in a productive teaching/learning environment.

RESPECT THE TEACHER/RESPECT THE STUDENTS PACE

TAKE GOOD NOTES, better yet TAKE NOTE OF EVERYTHING/ HAVE YOUR NOTES READY, don’t do it all from memory

HAVE ALL YOUR SUPPLIES WITH YOU, even if the teacher didn’t ask you to bring them.

BE QUIET WHEN THE TEACHER IS TALKING/ LET THE STUDENT SPEAK

ASK QUESTIONS, but pay close attention to the wording to guarantee you’ll get the info you’re looking for/LISTEN CLOSELY SO THAT YOU CAN GIVE THE STUDENT THE INFO SHE/HE IS LOOKING FOR

ASK FOR THE DAY’S OBJECTIVE/ GIVE YOUR STUDENTS THE DAY’S OBJECTIVE BEFORE THEY ASK, “what’s this for?”

People, every time we’re the head of some sort of ‘task’: cleaning the house, setting the table, buying the groceries, putting on make-up, a project at work…

WE NEED TO MAKE OUR OBJECTIVE(S) CLEAR TO OUR TEAM(children, spouse, coworker, family, students).

WE NEED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHERE WE’RE GOING.

MY TEAM NEEDS TO BE CONFIDENT THAT THEY ARE, IN FACT, GOING SOMEWHERE! this gives them the chance to do some pre-work investigation, to be in the correct mind frame or even to back out if it turns out that they aren’t interested in where I’m taking them.

BUT even if you’re not part of any team, even if it’s just YOU, the same principle applies…

Set a daily objective for yourself, be it tangible (work related-meet a deadline-, cut down on sweets, etc.) or SPIRITUAL (today I will smile and let happiness slowly take over me and my thoughts; today I will breathe slowly, calm down my racing heart and feel at peace with myself).

You need to let all your senses know where you want to go today, where you need them to be today, so that your whole self will willingly cooperate in achieving your daily goal.

y como dice el dicho DONDE PONE EL OJO, PONE LA BALA