Summary:
Teachers in general, and novice teachers in particular, are advised to attend actual live classes taught by seasoned educators; but is this truly beneficial for them, or is it a waste of their time and a squandering of their energy?
Introduction:
Many new teachers wonder about a path that will set them on the first step toward effective, creative teaching. In truth, the answer to this question is that a teacher must pursue several avenues and employ diverse means, the most important of which are: thorough preparation and observation. By observation, we mean that a teacher attends a lesson taught by another teacher or several teachers, thereby benefiting from their teaching style and the way they interact with students.
Discussion:
Observation offers numerous benefits, as it enables the observing teacher to connect what they have learned theoretically with practical application; for no two people would dispute that what one learns in theory is completely different from actual practice. Furthermore, teaching is not merely an instrument for transmitting information, but an art in its own right. A successful teacher is one who benefits from the experiences of others, drawing from this source and that until reaching a level of creativity in this art. Thus, the observing or visiting teacher should examine their colleague's method and how they communicate with their students, and gain a broad perspective on how to encourage students and handle their errors, in addition to building up a substantial repertoire of aids, methods, and activities that they can utilize during their own lessons, and acquiring the art of classroom management and student interaction.
However, we must not forget that there are many rules of etiquette for observation, including: asking permission from the teacher whose class is being observed, strictly adhering to the scheduled time by neither arriving outside the agreed-upon time nor showing up late, and recognizing that one is a guest in the classroom they are visiting; one must not offer information to a student or to the teacher, nor interfere with the flow of the lesson or embarrass the teacher. If the observer has an inquiry or an observation, they should write it down and discuss it with the teacher outside of class.
Conclusion:
Finally, dear teacher reading these lines, know that no matter how mature and accomplished a teacher becomes in their profession, they must continually develop themselves; for teaching is both a noble mission and a sacred trust. Moreover, teaching itself is an ongoing, ever-renewing endeavor with constantly evolving methods and techniques. Yesterday's student is not today's student, and while subject matter may remain constant, the ways to convey and utilize it are ever-changing. Therefore, be thoroughly committed to solid lesson preparation, diversifying your methods, and benefiting from the experiences of others—and classroom observation fulfills this need to a very great extent.