When you decide to become a teacher, you instinctively know that you will never stop learning. At least, that’s how it has been for me. I resigned myself early in my teaching career to the knowledge that learning is one of my greatest allies. This should not really come as a surprise to anyone – many people try to continue learning far after they leave school – but sometimes I wonder how many of us actively seek those opportunities.
Even as a young child, I always loved learning. Now, I don’t have many memories of my youth, but those that are still distinct in my mind involved some form of education. When I was younger – as many people do – I learned how to ride a bike. I still remember that sense of accomplishment that I felt when I finally kept the bike from shaking and rode down the “big hill” of my neighbor’s driveway. Education – learning something new.
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As I continued to grow older, I never really lost that love of learning. There is something so satisfactory in a lightbulb moment. In fact, one of my favorite parts of teaching is seeing the lightbulb go off for a student who has not understood a single word I have said all year – and suddenly, something changes. The story we read triggered something in that brain and – BING! – the lightbulb of understanding has finally clicked into place.
I think one of my favorite learning moments happened early last week as I was reading “Romeo and Juliet” with my freshmen. I wish I could tell you that it was a learning moment for the students, but it was actually a learning moment for me. I have read this play many, many times, yet I still find that there are some things I did not quite understand until a student asks a very specific question that sparks a lengthy discussion or a student reads the line in a perfect way that changes the meaning of the words.
*SPOILERS AHEAD* (You know, in case you did not read it in high school and were planning on doing so in the near future…)
Last week, we were reading act three of the play. This is the act where Tybalt kills Mercutio, so Romeo kills Tybalt, and Romeo is banished. Rough stuff, I’m telling you. Anyhow, in the act, Juliet is anxiously awaiting her husband’s arrival that evening so they might consummate their marriage. Here’s the funny part – the part where I learned something new – I always knew that Juliet was anxious to consummate her marriage. What I never realized is she is ONLY talking about consummating her marriage. She speaks of being married but not reaping all the benefits of a married woman – she’s not talking about taking care of her husband and doing chores, she’s just literally interested in sex!
I have to admit, I started to blush as I came to this realization. How did it take me this long to realize that this is a perfect point to demonstrate to my students that the “love” between Romeo and Juliet is based on looks and lust? This is the third time I have taught this play – at least the fifth time I have read it – and I just NOW got the full context of this?
I guess the moral of my article this week is to never stop learning. Re-read books to look for a deeper meaning. Revisit old instruments, pick up some knitting needles, try skateboarding. Whatever it might be, keep learning. Always seek to teach yourself something new - even if it means revisiting old concepts to see them from a new point of view.
