The more I read about teaching, and the more time I spend in front of a class, the less I seem to know. I can’t really describe a core principle of my philosophy or point to any one thing that informs my style. I think I would rather my students learn to think like writers than like academics. But I don’t agree with Elbow’s (or our own) de-emphasis on reading great (or what I would consider great) literature. I see writing and reading as inextricably linked and though he has a valid point that every other class will emphasize reading over writing—will in fact view writing as merely an approach to reading—I still don’t think that justifies or makes sense out of disregarding literature.

I want to agree with some aspects of Bartholomae’s ideas of the critical approach, asking students to examine their context, their angles, the parts of their views they take for granted. It’s true, I think that we can sometimes only learn or grow from conversation (or confrontation) with others. So it becomes necessary for the teacher to provide that occasion for growth. But I can’t agree with taking an initially dismissive attitude. I just fail to see the gain in that.

So I struggle on trying to define myself and what I want to be. Maybe that’s why I keep asking about what good teaching is. Because I feel like I’m still working out so much.

What I try to do, I guess, is create the environment most conducive to growth. Perhaps it’s like farming: so you start with  building a rich and thriving soil ecosystem (that would be the curriculum), then you offer water and sun and space. As you plants grow, you observe and adjust, paying attention to the formation of leaves and fruit clusters, offering inputs when you deem it necessary, standing back when everything is going well.

It’s not a perfect metaphor, but I think I like to see myself as this sort of gardner/teacher hybrid offering the best possible environment for growth. I do what I can to make the classroom safe, robust, stimulating, but individuals will thrive (or not) based upon their own motivation and desire.

I spoke as well the first day to my students of the beginner’s mind, and I think if I have a core philosophy, it must revolve around that. As a gardner, as a student, as a teacher, I can only do my best to observe my environment and the results of my actions. So I am still learning. Still adjusting. And I hope I always will be.