Cultivate Passion

By Wesley Fryer

Dear Fellow Parents:

Do your children dread the question, "What did you do in school today?"

Like many preteen girls, my middle daughter was NOT enthusiastic about mathematics in elementary school. Sarah did ok in her lessons, but she never would have claimed math as her 'favorite subject' until sixth grade in middle school. That was the year she was blessed to participate in math class with Mr. Vince Miller, and her perceptions of mathematics were changed -- possibly forever.

Mr. Miller is passionate about several things, including mathematics and meteorology. He is an amateur storm chaser, and every student who has ever been in his class knows it. Mr. Miller finds ways to not only share his love of severe weather with his students, he also opens up windows of understanding for them which connect the abstract ideas of math to the concrete world of photography, lightning and wall clouds. Mr. Miller is passionate about the subjects he teaches, and as an effective teacher his love and his skills for those subjects "rub off" on his students. Mr. Miller's passion for mathematics rubbed off powerfully on Sarah at Classen School of Advanced Studies in Oklahoma City Public Schools. Without hesitation, Sarah will tell you math was her favorite subject in sixth grade. It was a product of passion.

Passion matters in education because it can lead to unforgettable learning moments. It's almost impossible to spend a significant amount of time with a person who is passionate about something and not become affected. When offered an opportunity to share their passion with others, students and even bystanders can be treated to a learning experience which far exceeds "the transmission of mere facts" or procedures. The passionate teacher connects positive emotion and interest with knowledge and skills. Passionate teachers provide relevance for learning through stories and detailed illustrations. By sharing personal experiences on a subject about which they are passionate, teachers can clearly answer the "Why are we learning this?" question. "You are learning this today because I love it, and here are examples which demonstrate why."

To improve not only our schools and the quality of educational experiences learners have both inside and outside school, we need to encourage more passionate teaching. Yes, sometimes teachers are required to teach subjects they don't care much about, just as students are required to take classes or sit for exams that hold little interest for them. When teachers are invited, permitted and encouraged to teach about the subjects they feel the most passionate about, AND invited to teach each day with passion, delightful results can ensue. A student who thought "I'm not good at math" can change her mind. New windows of understanding can open. Positive dispositions toward an entire field of study (like mathematics) can be cultivated in cognitive fields that others dismissed as fallow.

This school year, I encourage you to find teachers at your school like Mr. Miller. These are teachers who make special connections to and for their students because of their passion for learning and their special areas of expertise. Take time to say 'thanks' directly to those teachers, and tell the stories of how your child was transformed by their influence. Find more ways to plant and sow the seeds of passionate learning. With sustained cultivation, the learning experiences students will harvest with teachers are guaranteed to exceed expectations.

Sincerely,

Wesley Fryer