Eureka moments in the classroom
Like getting a jackpot on a slot machine, or getting a steak cooked exactly how you asked it for at a restaurant, Eureka moments, can sometimes seem to be few and far between. However, when they do happen, there is that sheer delight of the benefits to reap after that bliss epiphany… if you are wondering what on earth it is I am talking about, it is that golden moment in a classroom, where you get multiple ideas in your head for different directions a lesson can take. Suddenly your mind comes awash with great ideas of where to take the lesson that you are currently teaching. By now, you have almost developed a completely new scheme of work in your head, with the next four to six lessons covered!! A teacher that is on their game should hopefully get these quite frequently. Planning, and I don’t need to remind you, is a vast part of teaching. Using the same lesson plans continuously can be quite tedious, and even though they work, I believe it is important to experiment now and again to get the maximum fun and enjoyment out of a lesson. Changing the direction of a scheme of work, from time to time, whilst keeping to the curriculum standards, can only add to your repertoire of lessons to teach. Furthermore, changing the predictability of your lessons, and spicing things up with new ideas, can keep you on your toes as a teacher. I am not suggesting teaching lessons completely out of your comfort zone, however, that new injection of life into a scheme of work you have been teaching for a while, can really be beneficial to both you the teacher and learners alike.
If you are teaching a lesson that is going swimmingly, and you get an inspirational moment whereby ideas for new lessons come into your head… write your ideas down!!! It will take a minute or two. And then when you have more time (whatever that means in teaching), develop your ideas into lesson plans. Some of my best schemes and lessons have come from eureka moments whilst in ‘mid-teach’, so use these moments wisely.
Do not be afraid to try new things in the classroom, and the better you know your class, the bolder you should be, as you can more often than not, predict their reactions to the lesson content and where behavioural issues might occur. We are teachers and are known for being creative and can think on our feet, so let’s use our inspirations to give the children the best possible lessons they deserve… that’s why we do it!!