Posing Questions—Part III: Nourishing Great QuestionsPosted on November 8, 2013 by David RhoadsHow can we create a hospitable atmosphere in which question-asking is an integral and valued part of the classroom experience for students and teachers alike?Maybe we need to be absolutely clear that we actually, really, honestly do want questions! To try and generate an atmosphere hospitable for questions, I have sometimes said, “You may have had a bad experience in the past asking questions in class. But I want you to know I welcome them. I know you may feel they expose what you do not know. But that is the whole point of learning. . . .
Posing Questions—Part II: Teaching CuriousityPosted on October 28, 2013 by David RhoadsPerhaps curiosity is a character trait that cannot be taught. But maybe it can be picked up by example or contagion or osmosis. You see someone who is fascinated with things and loves to investigate them, and you are just drawn to imitate that person….
Hospitality in the Classroom—Part III: Modeling the PracticePosted on October 5, 2013 by David RhoadsIn this post I will provide a number of the specific ways I have personally tried to answer: “How can I create an atmosphere where people were free to speak and learn without being anxious or fearful?” These practices may seem obvious, but they go far to create a classroom culture where learning can affectively occur….
Hospitality in the Classroom—Part II: A Legacy of HospitalityPosted on September 25, 2013 by David RhoadsAt its simplest level, the image of hospitality relates to our homes. If I imagine the classroom to be my home, how would I act if I had guests?Actually, hospitality is a lost art in our society….
Hospitality in the Classroom—Part I: A Key IngredientPosted on September 14, 2013 by David RhoadsI learned a teacher’s hospitality from the best-loved teacher at Carthage College, Dudley Riggle. Dudley is one of the finest human beings I have known. He has a profound theology of grace, and everything he does is informed by it. He is a quiet, unassuming person who thinks carefully through everything he says and does. He was the chaplain at the college, and he preached some of the best sermons I have ever heard….