The Lessons Educators Have Learned From Colleagues

‘Stealing’ Techniques

Teachers of a certain age might be familiar with Harry and Rosemary Wong’s book The First Days of School. What struck me when I first read the book, at the beginning of my teaching career, was their observation that good teachers are thieves. Harry Wong explained this same point at a conference years later saying that good teachers “steal” techniques from other teachers to help their students achieve and be successful. At first I was shocked by this idea, but after working as a teacher for 20 years, I have found this advice to be very true. I have “stolen” many lessons—from teaching strategies to teaching philosophies—from my colleagues in order to try and be a better educator.

I have learned many strategies, lessons, and teaching tricks from one amazing English teacher at my high school. She is my go-to teacher role model. One of the first things I “stole” from her happened by accident. I was walking past her room as she was teaching. Projected on her smartboard was a countdown clock to give students who were working at their desks a visual prompt of how much time there was left on their task before coming together to share out. It was an obvious and simple tool that made perfect sense. Students should know and see how much time they have left to work. I had been using the timer on my phone with my students, but they could not see it. This was something I ”stole” immediately to improve my instruction and student engagement.

Since then, I have come to depend on this colleague for the latest strategies and information in education. She constantly knows the most up-to-date literature for young adults. I have learned about new technologies, websites and apps like Prezi and Padlet from her. She is up on current reading research from Teachers College and shares it willingly with me. I make time to sit with her and get feedback on my lessons or advice on a new unit. She is open to sharing, and her enthusiasm is contagious.

As a high school special education teacher, regular education teachers often invite me to join their Google Classrooms as a teacher to monitor the work of students on my caseload that they have in class. This lets me see the messages they post to their students, their lessons and assignments, giving me many chances to “steal” ideas and outlooks from these teachers (with their permission, of course!).

These ideas push me to develop and challenge my philosophy of teaching. It has shown me that teachers I think I do not have much in common with have something worthwhile and important to share with me. They challenge me to expand out of my comfort zone as a teacher. I have learned from them compassionate and helpful ways to discuss issues like racial justice, the importance of mental health care, and possible feelings of isolation during the pandemic with my students.

One of the most important things I’ve learned across the board is the idea not to assume anything, to question what I think, and not to judge other teachers. They all have something to offer me if I am open. It is key that we surround ourselves with colleagues that challenge us and push us outside of our comfort zones to try new activities, to probe our assumptions, and to see things from a new direction.

Education, like so many other professions today, is extremely complex and ever-changing. One person cannot keep up with all the new strategies, technologies, resources, and materials. We rely on our colleagues and leaders to create an environment that supports our growth as professionals so that our students can be successful and prepared for life after high school. We are all in this together. No matter what discipline we teach, we all have something to share. The most important lesson I have learned is how much I still need to learn.