Metaphor
Teaching is like skiing
The teacher is like a skiing coach or instructor, they are there to put in place the foundations and teach you the skills you need to know.
The learner is like the skier- because you are learning the skills you need to know. When you first start skiing you have to learn the basics like how to go and how to stop, then you learn how to turn and get more speed. Just as a student you learn the basics first like how to read and write and follow instructions before you can learn more about different topics.
Excellent teaching would be shown by the progress of the learner and how much better they are getting and the new things they learn.
The limitations to being an excellent ski coach are the same for being an excellent teacher- the amount of participation from the learner. Another aspect is the time put into teaching/learning, including homework. On the ski field the more time you have to master a new skill the more successful you will be, which is the same as in the classroom.
In skiing one of the most frustrating and uncontrollable things is when you have been working really hard and you have a big race you have been training for and the elements aren’t in your favour (rain, fog, ice, wind). One of the most important lessons I was taught by my ski coach wasn’t about the technique of skiing- it was a character lesson. He taught me about patience and tolerance and how things in life aren’t always going to go your way. He would say, “The fog will eventually clear, the ice will soften and we will be back out there in no time, but people will remember your character and how you are as a person more then how fast you can ski.” As a teacher it’s not always about teaching academics but about teaching character lessons. Skiing can sometimes be really painful, you are risking a lot to get faster and faster and I have had some bad falls, and broken bones but its what you have to do if you want to win. It’s the same with school sometimes its hard and you feel like you cant do it, but once you break through that barrier your away.
I think the main aspect I find links skiing and teaching is the stages of learning you go through. Once you have learnt to ski you can focus on getting better and be a recreational skier, or focus on deep powder skiing or you can go into racing. There are so many types of racing and they are all stages- you start with downhill then move into slalom and giant slalom and if your really good you can move you to supers and super g. At the end of the day in both skiing and teaching there are building blocks you start on then move up as you go. Almost all freeskiiers who do half pipes and slope style started off racing because it builds determination and focus and discipline- sometimes meaning you spend all day working on one run, which can be boring but its what you have to do to get better.
In school you have to start off at an easy reading or math level before you can work your way up and it can be tedious but once again its what you have to do to get better at something. You teacher is there along the way to help you and cheer you on just as your ski coach is.
Other relatable areas:
The teacher is like a skiing coach or instructor, they are there to put in place the foundations and teach you the skills you need to know.
The learner is like the skier- because you are learning the skills you need to know. When you first start skiing you have to learn the basics like how to go and how to stop, then you learn how to turn and get more speed. Just as a student you learn the basics first like how to read and write and follow instructions before you can learn more about different topics.
Excellent teaching would be shown by the progress of the learner and how much better they are getting and the new things they learn.
The limitations to being an excellent ski coach are the same for being an excellent teacher- the amount of participation from the learner. Another aspect is the time put into teaching/learning, including homework. On the ski field the more time you have to master a new skill the more successful you will be, which is the same as in the classroom.
In skiing one of the most frustrating and uncontrollable things is when you have been working really hard and you have a big race you have been training for and the elements aren’t in your favour (rain, fog, ice, wind). One of the most important lessons I was taught by my ski coach wasn’t about the technique of skiing- it was a character lesson. He taught me about patience and tolerance and how things in life aren’t always going to go your way. He would say, “The fog will eventually clear, the ice will soften and we will be back out there in no time, but people will remember your character and how you are as a person more then how fast you can ski.” As a teacher it’s not always about teaching academics but about teaching character lessons. Skiing can sometimes be really painful, you are risking a lot to get faster and faster and I have had some bad falls, and broken bones but its what you have to do if you want to win. It’s the same with school sometimes its hard and you feel like you cant do it, but once you break through that barrier your away.
I think the main aspect I find links skiing and teaching is the stages of learning you go through. Once you have learnt to ski you can focus on getting better and be a recreational skier, or focus on deep powder skiing or you can go into racing. There are so many types of racing and they are all stages- you start with downhill then move into slalom and giant slalom and if your really good you can move you to supers and super g. At the end of the day in both skiing and teaching there are building blocks you start on then move up as you go. Almost all freeskiiers who do half pipes and slope style started off racing because it builds determination and focus and discipline- sometimes meaning you spend all day working on one run, which can be boring but its what you have to do to get better.
In school you have to start off at an easy reading or math level before you can work your way up and it can be tedious but once again its what you have to do to get better at something. You teacher is there along the way to help you and cheer you on just as your ski coach is.
Other relatable areas:
- Snow field= school
- Curriculum document= the rule book/ requirements
- Snow Sports NZ= Ministry of Education
Feedback on visual metaphors
Bex:
Your metaphor of 'teacher as librarian' is well developed and you have thought out all aspects of how teaching fits into how a library works. I love how the children are the books, and the librarian has read the books and knows the books. As an avid reader myself, I can relate to this awesome metaphor. Well done!
Grace:
Grace, I love your metaphor of 'hiking is like teaching'. I can see the comparison between preparing for a hike and preparing to teach. The idea of you as a guide/leader is well developed and I love how you have put a huge emphasis on getting there as a team and all finishing the hike together. Such a fantastic metaphor. Well done!
Bex:
Your metaphor of 'teacher as librarian' is well developed and you have thought out all aspects of how teaching fits into how a library works. I love how the children are the books, and the librarian has read the books and knows the books. As an avid reader myself, I can relate to this awesome metaphor. Well done!
Grace:
Grace, I love your metaphor of 'hiking is like teaching'. I can see the comparison between preparing for a hike and preparing to teach. The idea of you as a guide/leader is well developed and I love how you have put a huge emphasis on getting there as a team and all finishing the hike together. Such a fantastic metaphor. Well done!
Reading on teaching metaphors
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