Molly Berger: The Art and Science of Teaching

It amazes me how you can give any two teachers the same lesson plan and that even with similar students and settings, the classes will be so different. The process is the same. The outcome is the same. The details are different. Each lesson in the hands of a skilled teacher will take on an individual flair or tone. This is because of the teacher, but also because the same lesson with a different group of students or with the same students on a different day will also look different. Teaching is both art and a science, and a good teacher knows how to blend them.

The science of teaching is what we so often refer to as “best practice.” It is a well- designed lesson plan that takes into account the many aspects of learning from learning styles to assessment. The science of our profession is researched and tested by trial and error. It is studied, discussed, revised. As professionals we are trained and coached in the newest methods and resources in our field. And this is good.

This science seems always to be changing. We continually find new methods, new concepts to help us reach our students. And that is because education is a social science….our subject is not static. It changes with each generation and often within the generation. We learn more to expand upon what we already know.

This is where the art of teaching is so crucial. The art is the personal side of teaching. It is a well-trained teacher who takes the best practice and adds her experience to a lesson plan and tailors it to the specific students. It is the personal stories he adds to make the lesson come to life. It is the relationships built between teacher and student that make each class setting a unique expression of learning….the art.

Art is more than a skill. I have heard musicians who never miss a note, but their music is still lacking. Art comes from the passion of expressing who we are in our work. In education, part of this is natural -- stemming from our personality and talents -- and part of is developed through our experiences. The science helps us pull this together, but without the art, we lose the passion that brings the depth and breadth to learning.

A wise principal I know once said...teaching is like fly-fishing. You have many flies in your fly box. One day, at a particular river, fishing for a particular fish, you use one type of fly. Change the day, river, or fish and you change the fly. If one fly doesn't work, try another and another if necessary. Be sure you know what kind of fish you are fishing for. Sometimes you buy the flies and sometimes you tie your own. Technique is important. Seek advice from other fishermen/women.

Add to this that the fly fisherman is passionate and you have a strong analogy for teaching. A blend of the best practice (science) and the heart (art) makes for good teaching and learning. The personal nature of our classroom expresses who we are individually. It reflects our joy in teaching, our love of learning. Our students can tell. Our passion helps them find theirs.

Molly Berger is a guest blogger and teacher in Yakima.

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