Joan Moser
September 4, 2009
My husband and I were hiking last week in Alaska. Now this wasn't just any little day hike; it was the type where a guide was necessary. I originally thought the guide was there to help us through the rough vertical and horizontal terrain so we wouldn't get lost or kill ourselves. Wasn't I surprised to find out that was just one of her duties. Another primary chore was to support us if we came across a bear! In the event of a bear encounter we were to gather together so as to appear very large, thus scaring any bear away (I was relieved to find out that smart-looking backpack she had with her contained a powerful bear deterrent spray as well).
Her third duty was to tell about the beautiful Alaskan rainforest in which we were hiking. Her knowledge of the plants and animals living there was extensive, so I was really surprised when I found out that Carly, our guide, was a 25-year-old college graduate with a BA in business. She was not born and raised in Alaska and was not a teacher; it was merely a summer job for her since she had been a casualty of the difficult economy in her 'real job.'
As Carly led us through the forest, I was struck by the way she was able to monitor and adjust to our needs while skillfully teaching us about the many things we were seeing. She managed our time beautifully, knowing when to press on or stop and look, giving us a rest or a chance to regain our footing. As she pointed out different plants, fungi, moss and even bear droppings, she described each one by relating it to something else we could connect to from our own schema. She showed us the stag moss, which resembled a stag's rack of horns. There was the matchstick moss, which truly looked like matches. She explained the type of tree that most guitars are made from and directed our attention to the shelf fungi that lived on the tree, which really looked like a shelf. Everything Carly did, from the hiking to the teaching was just right for our particular group. Equally impressive were her humor, stories, enthusiasm, joy for the topic, and hands on approach. We were all engaged and learning while she taught us.
I couldn't help thinking about Carly and all I learned after our hike. I continue to reflect on Carly's skills when I think about my own teaching. This 25 year old business major modeled so beautifully how to monitor and adjust to what her students needed. Though she had specific knowledge to impart, she was completely present and responsive to our reactions to each new bit of information. She also reminded me that it is often the joy, enthusiasm, stories and humor that make connections for kids which lead to engaged and true learning. I will make it my goal to keep her in mind as I work with students this year.