Imaginative Bridges = Fashion

Before beginning the readings this week, I attempted to make the connection between fashion and teaching. Brainstorming, I suppose you could label it as. Random thoughts ran through my mind. “Teaching being an ‘in style’ career to select.” “ Using fashion to teach and motivate students to learn.” Perhaps, not the best ideas, but once I finished the reading, specifically the article on “branding”; a more meaningful connection was made. As in fashion, there are always fads. A time frame when some brand, some product, some something is considered ‘in’. This made me think about all the ‘fads’ that have arisen in education over the years. Teaching strategies, lessons, activities, etc. that became the new and ‘hype’ thing to do in the classroom. Many were advertised as changing education for the better, a way to ensure that all students learn, ones that will surely be around for years to come, and you better get on the bandwagon if you want success in your classroom. Many, if not most, were believed and implemented. Trainings took place, money was spent to alternate, and they became a new norm in schools. If you think about it, how many do we use still today? What new fads have taken their place? What was wrong with what schools were doing before these fads? Now, I am one for new, exciting, and interesting ideas for my classroom. Learning is not only for the children, but for teachers also. But, when will I be able to just concentrate on my teaching and not worry about changing something that does work? In my opinion, fads do exist in education. It seems that there is always something that needs to be changed. I will explore them if necessary and consider it a learning experience. The same could then be said for fashion too, right? A learning experience?