I was not sure what to expect or in what ways I would find The Mane Event applicable to the profession of teaching. From the readings I had gathered the obvious connections for me, which is that you can't make kids to something they don't want to do, no matter their age. As well, that each student is on a different learning path and learns at a different pace; thus, the importance of differentiated instruction and creating connections with students and following their leads in terms of their learning. However, I had an UH HUH moment as I watched and listened to Jonathan Field. When he talked about letting the horses go and be free to run around, yet always having the control to bring them back in and focus when he asked for it. The more and more he spoke of this training, the more I saw how each September I begin with the same type of "training" with the students (with regards to respectful behaviour and social responsibility), with the hope being that I too can release them and interact with them at liberty. We start with baby steps and usually need to go over the same lessons numerous times until they are mastered. As Kade (the second trainer from the Trainers Challenge) said about perfecting each lesson; students like horses test you to see if you really will follow through and it is important from the first moments to do so and "perfect" your lessons. And if these lessons are going to be successful then they need to come from a place of respect, especially in grade 7 where students do not have a natural love for their teachers. It is only with the earning of their respect and trust that they will become loyal to you and give you their attention and respect when it is asked for. Without mutual respect, the days in a grade 7 classroom become a living hell.
It is usually in late October, around this time of the year, when I really begin to see the results of my lessons. Whether it is during a science lab where chaos thrives, or in they gym during P.E. where energies are heightened, or outside of the school ground during a nature walk where the natural barriers are no longer there to keep the students confined; when the students are released at liberty I begin to see if the lessons have paid off. Am I able to with a gesture of the hand, or the expression on my face, with my body language, or a familiar signal gain the students' attention and have them return to me?
This is the connection I made with Jonathan Field. He did not use loud noise, or force to gain the attention of the horse. He used a simple gesture, which the horses could have chosen to ignore if it weren't for the mutual respect they had between them. There are teachers who use the tone of their voice, anger, and threats to gain the full attention of students; however, I find that these are also the same teachers who struggle with and complain all year about their students. I choose to spend a long time at the beginning of the year building mutual respect in hopes that by the time chaos and Halloween candy enters into the picture, I am still able to maintain and be in control of my classroom.
