Three Pillars of Impactful Teaching
Nov 15, 2022
Welcome back to another episode– and if you’re a 90’s baby, you might be thinking about 112 lyrics right now, and that's perfectly okay. We can still be friends! But, as fun as that throwback is, let’s focus on the meat of today’s discussion: The Three Pillars of Impactful Teaching.
As educators, we all aim to be impactful, but often, we find ourselves stuck, wondering how to move from where we are to where we want to be. We’re doing a lot of hard work, but with little financial progression or upward mobility, especially compared to other fields. I’ve been there – I get it. Even though my career in education has been meaningful and fulfilling, there are days when the lack of financial rewards or professional growth can feel disheartening.
However, after years of experience, both personal and professional, I’ve come to realize that it’s not about the “upward” career path – it’s about refining and deepening the work we already do. Let’s talk about the three pillars that can help us get there.
1. Innovative Teaching Strategies
The first pillar of impactful teaching is innovative teaching strategies. Let’s face it – education is constantly evolving, and our profession needs to keep pace with that. We can’t afford to remain stagnant. Since our field has only been around since the 1960s, we still have a lot of ground to cover. If we want to make a real impact on our students, we need to be actively seeking new ways to engage them and implement innovative strategies in the classroom.
I see a lot of educators struggle with staying current in their practice. It’s easy to just show up and go through the motions, especially when we're overwhelmed with the day-to-day pressures. But the key to success is to seek out the newest, most effective methods and make them our own.
For instance, in a recent training session, I taught my learners using Donna Sauerburger's TMAD (Traffic Monitoring and Decision Making) method, which I first learned in 2018. We applied this strategy in a residential neighborhood, and it worked wonders. Had I not embraced this innovative approach, I would have missed out on a powerful teaching opportunity. I encourage you to reflect on when you last engaged with new teaching strategies. Are you simply attending webinars, or are you actively implementing what you learn?
The truth is, we need to embrace the discomfort of trying something new. We can’t afford to shy away from challenges, and we can’t allow ourselves to get stuck in old habits. Innovation doesn’t just come from academic papers – it comes from action. So, if you haven’t already, start thinking about how you can step more fully into using innovative teaching strategies in your classroom.
2. Community
The second pillar of impactful teaching is community. This one is often overlooked, but it’s so crucial. As educators, we tend to work in isolation. We spend most of our time in our classrooms, or with our learners, and the outside world can seem distant. The result is that we miss out on the powerful benefits of connecting with other like-minded professionals.
We all need a community to thrive – it’s not just about happiness, it’s about belonging, support, and purpose. Without a strong community, our mental health can suffer, and our teaching suffers as a result. As an Orientation and Mobility (O&M) specialist, I’ve found that having a network of other O&M educators from around the world has been invaluable. The sense of belonging and sharing ideas has elevated my practice. It's like the story of the blind man and the elephant – when we each bring our unique perspective to the table, we get a fuller picture.
In fact, I recently had an eye-opening experience in a live training session. A group of educators shared ideas, and their insights sparked new ways of thinking for me. It’s amazing how even small ideas can propel new strategies or open up solutions to problems you’ve been wrestling with. The key takeaway here is that when we collaborate, we can elevate our practices and enhance our own perspectives.
So, I encourage you to think about your community. Do you have people you can turn to for guidance? If not, how can you build that network? Whether it’s in your local area or through an online group, having a supportive community is key to staying motivated, inspired, and impactful.
3. Balanced Life
The third and final pillar is a balanced life. I cannot stress enough how important this is for teachers. If we don’t manage our time efficiently and take care of ourselves, we will burn out. I’m sure many of you have been there – working long hours, sacrificing personal time, and feeling like you’re constantly on the go. It can be exhausting, especially if you have a family or other personal commitments.
For me, things came to a head when I was juggling a young family and teaching. I realized that the systems I had in place weren’t working – I wasn’t eating dinner, I wasn’t sleeping well, and I was constantly running on fumes. This wasn’t sustainable. I had to reevaluate my priorities and find ways to create a more balanced life.
A big part of achieving balance is learning to use your time efficiently. When I was in my early years of teaching, I was working 14+ hour days. But once I learned to prioritize my time and implement systems, things started to change. I was able to balance my professional responsibilities with my personal life, which made me a better teacher and a happier person overall.
So, if you’re struggling with time management, consider investing time in creating systems that work for you. Find ways to streamline your day-to-day tasks and prioritize your well-being. Remember, if you’re not taking care of yourself, it’s hard to be the impactful teacher you want to be.
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