Sep
5
First day of School
Posted by: Natasha Chiang | September 5, 2012 | Leave a Comment
It is completely different being in school learning about how to shape a classroom and assume the teacher’s role (in approx. 14 months!!). This had been a program that I’d dreamt of attending, as a first step, for years and years and years of my undergraduate. It wasn’t because I knew what to expect.. but […]
May
15
“Is it that you can’t, or that you don’t want to?”
Posted by: Natasha Chiang | May 15, 2012 | Leave a Comment
I am reading LouAnne Johnson’s “Teaching Outside the Box”. In one chapter she refers to the question that her mentor once asked his student: “Is it that you can’t, or that you want to?” He challenged his student to replace all his “can’ts” with “don’t want to”. The statement, “I can’t solve this problem” becomes […]
May
8
Lessons from Teaching
Posted by: Natasha Chiang | May 8, 2012 | Leave a Comment
The thing about teaching is that you cannot be overly concerned about the students’ opinions of you. You have to be strict for their sake. You have to maintain fairness and sincerity without offending or discouraging them. You also have to keep them engaged and focused, by determining the best small groups to maximize each […]