#administrators – Authentic Teaching

Need a mid year reminder about what kind of teacher you are….check out this post! I have developed a theory that teaching is 50% art and 50% science. (For my math teacher friends – check out that math reference!!). Art is the instinctive, reflective, and creative side of teaching. Science is the skill based, organized, and experienced side of teaching. All teachers are some combination of these two elements. Some teachers are almost 100% art or 100% science while others may be various combinations of art and science. Great teachers are an authentic combination of art and science that yields results. This can look differently for each teacher depending on what is true to them. Ultimately, teachers of all types should strive to find the closest 50/50 balance they can between art and science in their teaching.

Explaining the Art and Science of Teaching

I thought it would be helpful to use my two dogs to show the difference between the art and science sides of teaching. Yes, my two dogs. Hopefully, this will make it abundantly clear what qualities each side of teaching possesses.

Maui and the ART of teaching –

Maui is ALL art! Maui lives every day to the fullest, is utterly impulsive, and frequently runs head first into chaos. Maui does not like rules or constraints of any kind. He is free with his love, enthusiasm, and affection. He is equally giving with his destruction, irritation, and leaving messes for others to clean up. When we are using our ART side in teaching we can be:

Funny
Creative
Inspiring
Out of the Box thinker
Loving
Passionate
Sees the big picture

But, like all things, there is a downside to the teacher who is primarily ART. When teachers operate from this side predominantly these qualities can show up:

Unplanned
Chaotic
Unprepared
impacts others plans
overly emotional
Misses details

Maisie and SCIENCE of teaching –

Maisie is ALL Science! She is routine based, single minded, and only wants to do what is expected. She is absolutely baffled when a routine changes or a new person arrives. She wants to stay right in line with her leaders and aims to please consistently. However, when she gets overwhelmed, she loses it completely. Often, she simply lacks the tools to pivot! Literally, will run into a wall if her leader moves too quick in a new direction. An actual wall! When we are using our science side in teaching we can be:

Organized
Structured
Clearly focused
Solid routines
Lots of knowledge
Hard Worker
Detail oriented

Again, just like the primarily art teacher, the predominantly SCIENCE teacher struggles with these qualities:

rigid and inflexible
unsure of changes
Worried
Angry easily
Unable to quickly alter course
gets lost in the details, missing the purpose

So, which one sounds more familiar to you? How can you determine which way you lean towards and then purposefully balance better? Read on to see what type of teacher you are and how you can balance your art and your science more evenly!

What type of teacher are you?