At times teaching is like lifting the lid off of an amazing gourmet meal.  We see how sumptuous it appears when presented to the hungry diner. The smells, sounds and sights of the experience flood the mind. What did it take to get everything right, that moment where the senses could be tantalized to the edge of anticipation of that first bite? Can school be like that? Why not?

Within this kitchen-classroom analogy, our job resembles that of culinary trainers. Not the Gordon Ramsay type, think nice guys like Jamie Oliver or Guy Fieri.  In essence, our menus show students a world of intellectually edible delights. A smorgasbord for their learning senses that offers something for all tastes joining the table. We then begin to understand what they want according to their taste(s). We would never expect to stay in business offering only bread and water-no matter how starved the clientele.

Consider our roles as akin to letting learners set the menu, choose and gather ingredients, then letting them prepare the meal(s). All this, while talking things over with their fellow chefs & sous-chefs and tweaking each recipe. It is all about allowing them a “Collaboration” space that inspires their “Curiosity and Wonder”. It is what does, and will make them excellent.
In reality we encourage them to write their own recipe books.

We respect their choices, and  we are there to help them, add a little spice, turn the heat up or down, and clean up when something burns  or spills.

The above response was inspired by an incredibly insightful blog by @twilhelmus

You can find a link to the original below.

http://playgroundadvocate.blogspot.ca/2013/01/11-things-i-think-i-know-we-must-teach.html

Thank you Tim for this post. You write with honesty and clarity shining light on all of the “must-dos” that we strive for as teachers. Allowing our voices to be heard by all means necessary is crucial to the success of  our students. It is unconscionable that the drill and kill transmission model of education is still practiced in this century.

These 11 Things are irreducible minimums that comprise the standards of effective and authentic practice. We must infuse each of them into our classrooms as we equip learners to discover, create and ascend to their roles within our society.