I know Take-a-Ways "Lessons for the Teacher in All of Us" by Linda Edgecombe

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As an avid skier, I have had the awesome opportunity to be able to volunteer as Ski Patrol over the years. I remember one little 6 year old sitting with me one day on the ski lift and to be friendly and open, I started chatting up this little girl. I asked her the basic 6 year old questions, "do you have a financial portfolio?" Kidding. What school do you go to? Do you have a best friend? Do you like your teacher? What's her name? Mrs. Thomson she told me. "That's Thomson without the 'p'." Are you reading yet I asked? Yep, she stated. Robert Munch is my favourite, she explained. Is he one of the Back street Boys? I asked. She just stared at me. So then I started being the adult and asked her a few quiz questions like Are you doing your numbers yet? You bet she said. So I asked a few 2 +2 questions, some 2+4 questions.

Then I threw her a curve ball and asked her "What are 5 minus 3? She just looked down and shook her head. She was quiet after that so I just enjoyed the ride and the breathtaking scenery. That's an age thing. How we start to see things with more regard after the age of 35. My little friend looked up and just stared for the longest time with a puzzled look on her face. She tugged on my sleeve, just before we were to slide off the chair at the top and said. We haven't done minuses yet, but I do know Take-A-Ways. I smiled.

How often in everyday life do we encounter a communication blip. You say one thing and the receiver doesn't hear it that way. As educators we pride ourselves in the ability to get ideas across, exchange viewpoints and facilitate discussion with a great summation, then call it a day. I want to challenge you to think about this statement: "the magic happens when the teacher listens" How good are you at reading your class. And I don't mean reading to your class. Assessing them. Just observing the energy, body language and tone of attitude. I experienced an amazing performer once by the name of Ken Meedima. He was born blind and is an accomplished composer of music and profound thoughts. He normally goes to conferences and listens to the Keynote speakers.

As soon as they are done, he gets on stage, sits down at his grand piano and composes a song in the moment that captures the essence of the words the speaker spoke and the music matches the energy the speaker exuded. I have seen him do this 4 times at various conferences. This one particular conference, he did not do that. He just came out on stage and asked this of the audience. "I want you to think about a time in your life, when someone listened and it had an impact on you." I want 20 volunteers to come up to the mics that were planted in the audience and I want you to tell me your stories". Up came the volunteers.

They told their stories of when someone had listened and it had an impact on them. What I observed that day was this. Nineteen out of the twenty volunteer's examples were teacher examples. One was a parent. Half of those 19 examples were lifesaving examples. One was a parent. I thought to myself, hey I'm a parent. I have some work to do here. Then it hit me. As teachers, we have an awesome opportunity to truly affect our students lives. The double edge sword we live by is this. It is a huge responsibility that we have signed up for and secondly we hardly ever get the feedback.

The magic happens when the teacher listens. This too is also a double edge sword. Not only do your students get to express themselves, but we get the opportunity to learn something about ourselves. Teaching is a two way street - so I challenge all teachers, coaches, custodians, administrators, and parents out there. Listening can sometimes be the best teaching tool we could ever use. It's been known to save lives and more often known to spark spirits.