#3296. Examples from Nature work the best

other, level: all
Posted Tue Nov 23 22:23:35 PST 2004 by Sharing Light (SharingLight@msn.com).

Sharing Light, New York, US
Materials Required: Common Sense
Activity Time: All Life
Concepts Taught: Don't lecture - share knowledge from the Nature

Children are rebellious by nature; for, they like to establish themselves, as well as, their ego drives them to outperform others. That sense of competition is, constantly, encouraged by our society.
Often, that drives goes to the extreme and the children, openly, challenge their parents' and teachers' authority.
In the light of the fact that, unfortunately, many parents and teachers do not invoke much respect in the children by their, own example, guiding children in the classroom becomes a challenge.
Add the concept of wide strides of the, so quickly, advancing technology, which, often, spoils children by giving them a false sense of superiority and security, "look I have so much," the task becomes even harder.
The more a teacher demands subordinance, the more children resist.
They just love to do the opposite in that case. Threats, disciplinary actions work but only on the surface; for, complying out of fear is not the same as having a genuine respect
for a teacher, as a matter of fact, to guide children naturally.
One and foremost important way is, of course, being an example yourself; for, hypocrisy has never worked. Doing things, just, for a salary and looking at the clock is not helping much.
Having a genuine desire to help children in reality would be transposed in such energy that children will respect such teacher sooner or later and never forget him or her.
A faster way is using "the great law of natural analogy (GLNA.)"
It, simply, means that whenever you have to make a strong point, instead of giving long lectures, etc., give short and precise examples from the nature!
That would do wonders.
I would give you an example. You can illustrate the concept of subordination and proper order by talking of the natural order in the Solar system.
We, all, live on Earth. Don't we? The Earth is a part of the Solar system. Isn't it?
So, we are a part of the latter. Remind your students that planets revolve around the Sun and not the other way around. The Sun is the central figure in the Solar system. The planets always revolve around the common center.
A teacher is a common center in the class. There is one teacher in a given class and many students as there is one Sun and numbers of the planets.
Tell the students that Nature only selects the best and ultimate way. Tell them that anything else is doomed for extinction. They will understand those, simple facts of life.
So, if the planets revolve around the common Sun, why would they expect the planets to revolve around the Sun or a teacher - around them?
Ask them what would happen if the order of the Solar system would be changed and planets would be becoming the centers? Mention that center implies one in a particular system. One center, not many -- one Sun -- not many in our, Solar system. Ask them if such system would survive with multiple centers of gravity and chaos?
Talk about chaos and order and what each one means.
So, how can they expect a normal functioning of the class system if they disobey the law of nature? Draw parallel after asking questions. Don't lecture them -- engage them in the conversation. Better, yet, ask them to write a composition on what would happen to the solar system if the order is reversed?
Then, ask them to write a second composition, what would happen if the same thing would happen in a classroom according to the ratio: Sun-teacher, students-planets.
Examples from nature, would, always, imprint and engage all much more than a dry, lecturing format.
Try that and post the results. If, prefer and you are in New York City area, invite me.
In one class, I would draw enough attention from the students, who are considered difficult, that would consider such approach.
(to be continued...)
SharingLight@msn.com