What is the art and science of teaching?

What is the art and science of teaching?

Teaching is certainly both an art and a science, but which parts of it are to be labelled as which? When people talk of the art and science of teaching, it seems they define the art as the creative part and the science as the structured and systematic part. This seems to type science as something that is facts and figures and set ideas. Yet the model associated with the Nature of Science shows science as something different to that.

The model in the above link shows that science includes such aspects as:

• ·      curiosity,
• ·      serendipity,
• ·      surprising observation,
• ·      inspiration,
• ·      creativity,
• ·      new questions and ideas,
• ·      interpretations.

There is then what we traditionally define as ‘art’ to science, and I imagine also there is what we traditionally define as ‘science’ to art.

This isn’t so much a vital argument for which bits of teaching are science and which bits are art, but perhaps it is important for science and for art. To see those disciplines as broader than their traditional conceptualization as certain types of subjects seems useful if not vital for the understanding of both.

Just thinking.

Inspired by ... Joyce Sidman

Books are teachers too.

In a classroom, books can be used as mentor texts for writing, as inspiration, ideas, or just to enjoy.

An author whose books I am inspired by is Newbury award winner author and poet Joyce Sidman 

There is information about her and her books on her website.

http://www.joycesidman.com/books/

Three non-fiction books I have read and loved and I highly recommend. Everyone I show them to feels the same way.

• Butterfly Eyes: and other secrets of the meadow (illustrated by Beth Krommes)

http://www.joycesidman.com/books/butterfly-eyes-and-other/

• Ubiquitous: celebrating nature's survivors (illustrated by Beckie Prange)

http://www.joycesidman.com/books/ubiquitous-celebrating/

• Swirl by swirl: spirals in nature (illustrated by Beth Krommes)

http://www.joycesidman.com/books/swirl-by-swirl-spirals-in/

These books are all an interesting combination of poems and prose to give the information about the topic. Also beautifully illustrated.

I have also very much enjoyed a fiction one, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski:

• This is just to say: poems of apology and forgiveness

http://www.joycesidman.com/books/this-is-just-to-say-poems/

The book is inspired by the poem by William Carlos Williams (This is just to say) and creates a story of characters as they write and receive apologies.

On my list to look at is:

              Eureka: Poems about inventors

This is how she talks of this book's origin: This book started outside on a walk, as most of my books do.

And her website has teaching ideas for that book and for all the featured books

http://www.joycesidman.com/books/eureka-poems-about-inventor/eureka-rg.pdf

and useful ideas about inventors in relation to the Eureka book:

http://www.joycesidman.com/books/eureka-poems-about-inventor/useful-links-about-inventor.html

Books are teachers too. Authors are teachers too. Thank you Joyce Sidman.

Following a thread: Finding Sophie Blackall

Because of a wonderful community of folk, Twitter allows me to follow threads, to wander and explore and find wonders I never knew existed. So today I am inspired to write my first blogpost.

Here's an example of the threading process:

1.  I followed an @brainpickings post 

Maria Popova ‏@brainpicker2h

Instant soul uplift: Sophie Blackall on subversive storytelling, missed connections, and optimism http://j.mp/11GpAKy 

I couldn't resist linking in and although I may have visited this before, a second look with more time revealed more treasure.

2.  I found the Debbie Millman interview with Sophie Blackall https://soundcloud.com/designmatters/design-matters-with-debbie-133  and whilst listening to that (40 minutes), I broke my new rule of single-tasking and flicked back to the brainpickings site to view the Missed Connections pictures while I listened. I guess this might still count as single-tasking because it was on the subject.

The interview delved into how Blackall approaches being an illustrator and I even wrote a few notes I thought key for learner artists (at about 7-9 minutes into the interview).

       To want it desperately, to love it even when you're not that good, even when the pictures suck...to want to go back and make them better...
      Looking at other artists' drawings and to try to figure out what they did, what it is that works or doesn't work... looking and looking and then trying to apply what you see to what you do.
     Being comfortable when you realize the picture in your head often doesn't come out on the page the way you want it to and learning to love the picture on the page.

3. The interview also had a link to a short vimeo http://vimeo.com/36116772 of Sophie at work. Worth a watch.

4.  Finally, I followed a thread to the books Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows which are illustrated by Sophie Blackall. I never knew these existed and they look like something I will need to seek out. The website looks fun too and I especially liked this page and I think children would too. http://www.anniebarrows.com/ivyandbean/ivyandbean/craftsandideas/

Not only did the +Brain Pickings lead me to discovering the wonderful Sophie Blackall and finding out more about how an illustrator might work, but now I have a new thread to follow... Finding Annie Barrows ...

Thank you Twitter community.