For the last few weeks I’ve spent two hours each Saturday afternoon at a beginning wheel throwing pottery class at an art center downtown. I signed up for the six week class because I wanted to try something new, do something creative, and connect with others in my community.
Taking this class has reminded me of what it’s like to be a learner and of some lessons we can take into our teaching:
- First days can be scary. The morning before my first class I was so anxious. Even though the art center had done a good job explaining where to park, what to wear and what to bring, I was nervous. Now this may have just been me, but I wondered who would be in the class, what would the instructor be like, would I be able to do it? It wasn’t until class was underway that I was able to relax and enjoy.
- Students want to know who their teacher is and be part of a community. We’ve had three different instructors, and they’ve all been great. While I don’t need to know every detail of their lives, it helps to hear a little bit about them. I like knowing how long they’ve been making pottery, what they like to make, etc. When the instructor shared that also encouraged others to talk and share. A classroom is a community and community is better when we know each other.
- People learn in different ways. At the first class our instructor demonstrated how to use the wheel to center the clay, create a piece of pottery, and remove it from the wheel. It was a lot of steps and I found I couldn’t keep track of all the details – which tools to use when, what angles to hold my hands, what speed to use, etc. One demonstration was not enough to learn everything, so the instructor demonstrates every week and sometimes demonstrates multiple times in class when we have questions. And even though the demonstrations help me tremendously because I can get an idea of where I’m supposed to be going, I also need help from the instructor while I am creating. Even with all of that help, I think I would have also liked to have some written steps and/or pictures I could refer to when I was working independently. It made me think a lot about all the work I’ve been doing recently with Universal Design for Learning and providing students with options.
- One opportunity isn’t enough to show what you can do or what you know. Recently I’ve been doing some work with district and school leaders about assessments and standards based grading. In pottery class, creating a piece of pottery was my goal (like a classroom standard). Yesterday when my piece collapsed just before I thought I was finished, I immediately thought “I’m glad I have another chance.” That led me directly back to the idea of how many chances we give our students to try, to fail and then to try again and how we measure those attempts. If I were only “graded” on the one piece that collapsed then I would lose all my motivation. I need multiple chances to show what I was learning. One try was not enough.
- Nothing is perfect. Throwing clay has been a humbling experience. As someone who prefers to do things the “right way,” creating art has reminded me that that is not always possible or even the goal. Learning itself can be a goal. Having fun can be a goal. Getting out of your comfort zone can be a goal. And I can enjoy the process of creating and what I’ve created even when my results might not look even or perfect. Learning to accept, and even embrace, when things don’t go the way we thought they would is a lesson we can help our students learn as well.
As all educators know, teaching and learning are never too far from our minds no matter what we’re doing, but I promise I am having fun with the pottery class. It’s been great to get my hands dirty and do something so outside of my normal activities.
PS – If you live near Columbia, SC and are interested in pottery, I’d encourage you to check out what Columbia Parks and Recreation Arts Center.
Reflections of an Instructional Coach 