Metaphor – Teacher as Gardener

A response to the Your Metaphor Activity
created by Erin Gilbart (@egilbart)

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This is a picture of some seeds that I grew this winter in preparation for outdoor gardening season. In exploring the linked resources in this module – the Teachers as Gardeners metaphor really resonated for me as this is a passionate hobby of mine and I think really reflects my approach in the classroom- “Their goal is to cultivate the mind by nourishing, enhancing the climate, removing the weeds and other impediments, and then standing back and allowing growth to occur.” (Exploring Your Teaching Philosophy: Sample Exercises. Centre for Teaching Excellence, University of Waterloo). Like seeds, some students are reluctant learners and require support and nurturing to help them cultivate roots in order to spread and grow stronger. Like plants, students experience setbacks (e.g., storms and other environmental constraints) that may require some supplementation (e.g., fertilizer, staking) to assist their growth and development. Like seeds, students grow at different rates in their own time, but all have the potential to blossom and bloom.