Comments on Brookfield Chapter 20 (Staying Sane: 16 Maxims of Skillful Teaching)

-

 

Teaching is a challenging yet deeply rewarding profession. In The Skillful Teacher, Stephen Brookfield (2015) outlines 16 maxims that serve as guiding principles for educators striving to maintain balance, growth, and effectiveness in their practice. These maxims help teachers navigate the emotional, intellectual, and professional complexities of teaching while staying grounded and focused.




16 Maxims for Skillful Teaching

  1. Attend to Your Emotional Survival – Teaching is emotionally intense. Take care of your mental and emotional health to sustain yourself and your work.
  2. Expect Ambiguity – Not everything will be clear or predictable. Embrace uncertainty and be flexible in your approach.
  3. Perfection is an Illusion – You won’t always get things right, and that’s okay. Let go of the need to be perfect and focus on continuous improvement.
  4. Ground Your Teaching in How Your Students are Learning – Effective teaching isn’t about how well you teach, but about how well your students learn. Focus on their needs and progress.
  5. Be Wary of Standardized Models and Approaches – No single method works for every student. Adapt your teaching strategies to suit the diverse needs of your class.
  6. Regularly Learn Something New and Difficult – To stay energized and engaged in your work, challenge yourself to learn new skills or concepts outside your comfort zone.
  7. Take Your Instincts Seriously – Trust your instincts when it comes to decisions in the classroom. Your experience and intuition can guide you in many situations.
  8. Create Diversity – Build a classroom environment that values and includes diverse perspectives, experiences, and ways of knowing.
  9. Don’t Be Afraid to Take Risks – Don’t shy away from trying new methods or ideas, even if they might fail. Risk-taking is essential for growth and creativity.
  10. Remember that Learning is Emotional – Learning isn’t just intellectual—it’s emotional. Recognize and respond to the emotional experiences of your students.
  11. Acknowledge Your Personality – Your personality affects your teaching style. Embrace it and understand how it influences your interactions with students.
  12. Don’t Evaluate Yourself Only by Student Satisfaction – Student satisfaction is important but doesn’t define your success. Focus on whether your students are learning and growing.
  13. Remember the Importance of Both Support and Challenge – Effective teaching involves providing both support and appropriate challenges to help students grow.
  14. Recognize and Accept Your Power – As an educator, you have power in your classroom. Be aware of how you use this power and the impact it has on students.
  15. View Yourself as a Helper of Learning – Your role is to help facilitate student learning, not to do it for them. Guide them, but allow them to take ownership of their learning.
  16. Don’t Trust What You’ve Just Read – Stay critical of any teaching method or theory, even if it sounds good. Always test ideas in your own classroom to see what works for your students.

Conclusion

Stephen Brookfield’s 16 maxims provide a thoughtful framework for teachers to navigate the challenges of the profession while staying grounded and effective. By focusing on emotional survival, embracing uncertainty, and continuously learning and growing, educators can not only thrive in their own professional lives but also create environments where their students can succeed and develop.

Reference

Brookfield, S. D. (2015). The skillful teacher: On technique, trust, and responsiveness in the classroom (3rd ed.). Jossey-Bass.


Nor-Mali-ity in the Workplace © 2025 by MKos is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Catching, Not Teaching: How Students Will Experience Assessment As Learning - PIDP 3351

-
Image
In this post, I want to talk share how I’ll be building my learning environment in a way that helps students  experience   Assessment  of ,  for , or  as  Learning  ideas first-hand. Because here’s the thing: ownership of learning can’t be handed to anyone in a lecture. It’s something you feel when the conditions are right—when the learning becomes yours (Earl, 2013). You’ll Catch the Shift When... Here’s how I’m shaping my class so students begin to naturally shift from doing the work for a grade to doing it for their growth : 1. They’ll Set the Bar, Not Just Meet It Instead of me telling students what “good” looks like all the time, they’ll work with examples, create their own success criteria, and revisit their goals. In my  Effective Meal Planning course, for example, they’ll co-create a checklist with their team based on what they  think makes a strong meal plan—not just what I think. Why? Because once you define success, yo...
Read more

Comments on Brookfield Chapter 8 (Teaching in Diverse Classrooms)

-
Image
  In The Skillful Teacher , Brookfield (2015) emphasizes the importance of teaching in diverse classrooms. Students come from different backgrounds, experiences, and learning styles, so educators must recognize and respond to these differences. Effective teaching involves acknowledging personal biases, fostering open discussions, and adapting instructional strategies to support all learners. Creating an inclusive and welcoming environment helps students feel valued and engaged. Application in Adult Trades Training As an adult trades instructor, I can apply Brookfield’s ideas by: Recognizing diverse backgrounds – Adult learners bring varied work experiences, skill levels, and learning preferences. I can adapt my teaching to meet their needs. Encouraging open discussions – Creating a space where students share experiences can enhance learning and build confidence. Using multiple teaching methods – Combining hands-on practice, visual aids, and real-world examples ensures all ...
Read more