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Can old teachers learn new tricks?
A real teacher spends their life learning new tricks because they understand that learning is a lifelong pursuit, especially for those charged with helping others learn. A good teacher is like a rushing stream of water, constantly renewing, remaining fresh and clear, never stagnating.

Students can sense and share the enthusiasm of the teacher who isn't afraid to explore new ideas, new ways of doing things. The excitement of learning is contagious. Ask any student which teachers they respect and the overwhelming answer will be the teacher who isn't afraid to learn and use new tricks in their classrooms. A sure fire way to turn students off and put them to sleep is to present the same old material in the same old way over and over.

Learning works in both directions. Teaching, at least good teaching is a dialogue, not a monologue. The best teachers are open and learn from their students. They can tune in to the expressed and implied needs of their students. Students are pretty smart about people. They know when their teacher is tuned in to their wavelength. The result can be nothing short of amazing as the learning spirals upward.

Of course learning new teaching tricks goes beyond the classroom. Many if not most jurisdictions require teachers to complete continuing education requirements to retain and renew their teaching credentials. Teachers who approach continuing education with an open mind instead of a chore that has to be done, will come away richer for the experience. They are the same teachers who not only can learn new tricks but who never miss the opportunity to do so.

You've probably come across more than one cranky old teacher who never seems to get it. No matter how many seminars they attend, no matter how many continuing education credits they earn, they never change. Every class is the same. They bore the kids to tears, and sadly, they don't wonder why. In fact, they might not even notice how truly stagnant they have come to be.

The only good thing about the old dogs that can't or won't learn new tricks is they put the ones that do, the good teachers who can and do learn new tricks in sharp contrast. The good teachers stand out from the crowd and help make learning a pleasure because they are willing to learn themselves.

Life itself is a journey, a process of continuous, creative renewal. Those people, not just teachers, who understand this are never too old to learn new tricks.

Learn more about this author, John McDevitt.
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