Gavin McCormack posted the following brilliant ideas of how to empower our students and allow them to be smarter than the teacher. He says, and I agree, that if we think that teaching is simply standing at the front and lecturing our students, we limit them to only being as smart as us.
By actually observing how our children learn, we provide valuable insights into how they operate independently, who they are and what they love.
As you observe, ask yourself these questions:
1. How do they research?
2. What happens when things go wrong?
3. Where do they like to work best?
4. How long can they concentrate for?
5. Who do they like to work with?
6. Do they need down time?
But more importantly, by inspiring them and stepping back, we allow our children to foster their own excitement around a subject, we encourage them to take a lead. Students have an amazing capacity for leadership, and we have the responsibility to allow them to become leaders.