Teaching as Lighting a Fire

I wanted to put something important in my blot with my picture. I decided to attach my original metaphor for teaching. I selected this assignment for several reasons - mainly because I wrote it when I first started - and although I now have much more research to back up these ideas, the ideas I had from the beginning are mostly right on to what is important.

I chose this metaphor primarily because the purpose of flint and steel is to light a fire. And the purpose of good teaching is to light a fire – the fire inside a child to want to learn and know more.

This fire might not light on its first try – it might take one, two or many, many more tries. It takes experience with a flint and steel to get that fire lit. But, one must remain consistent in trying. This is the case with the children. Many will not ‘light’ with the first try. But, you vary your angle, strike the flint harder or more lightly (in other words, you vary your teaching techniques) to make it right for that try (or that child).

Sometimes the reason the fire won’t start is the kindling. You need to look at your kindling and make sure it is ready to receive the spark – it may need to be dryer or you may need to protect it from the wind. In this same way – we need to look at the children. Is there some outside factor that is preventing them from learning in the best way possible – maybe they need protection from bullying, or they have a sick family member, or they are having language difficulties. These factors in our ‘kindling’ need to be seen and addressed before the fire will take.

This may take an immense amount of patience at times. But, the fire is most important and must be lit! Fires all start with a small spark – but one that can grow into a massive fire if fed properly. And, once the fire is started, it will continue to burn and smolder unless it is actively put out or ignored for too long. Our job is to help the fire get started, but also to help ‘feed the fire’ so that it continues to grow. We want the children to ask questions and never be satisfied – just as a fire needs more and more wood – it just consumes what is in its path.