Creating a synergy sensation

In life we come across many different environments. Areas and communities in which we are forced to share or of which we are forced to partake. Most of these environments are created by other people. We therefore do not really have a say in the atmosphere and interactions within these environments. Take the city you live in as an example. Your influence seems limited to a vote in a local government election and initiatives you launch on your own accord. You cannot set the tone and that in a sense forces us into mundane participation. Consuming rather than actively engaging.

As a teacher you are in the privileged position of managing and thus creating your own classroom environment. This is a special opportunity of setting the tone for effective pedagogy and optimal learning. The realization is very empowering. Immediately one feels like the ruler of your own little kingdom. What you say and what you do, that is the law. You can determine punishment as well as praise. You are the dictator and they are your slaves. Working, working, working and paying your salary in the process.

The above mentioned realization however is unfortunately a skewed view of this precious privilege of orchestrating mental development. Many teachers fall in to the power trap and degrade themselves into forceful fascists. This power, responsibility rather, of mindfully designing a meaningful space is much more than simply controlling it with an iron fist. To a large degree it is the opposite.

As educators we have to make the most of what we have. In a short time we need to set and prepare children for their often scary life journey.  The key to doing this lies in synergy. I am sure you have heard the story of the horses pulling the cart. One horse can pull a cart of two tons. Two horses together thus should be able to pull a cart weighing 4 tons. In actual fact they can pull a cart of 7 tons. Synergy is therefore when the output generated by combining the inputs is more than the sum of the individual outputs. This beauty of teamwork is displayed in various walks of life. Adding various strengths together to become an unstoppable force. The same strategy should be employed when mindfully creating the learning environment.

By thinking of specific structures and activities we can transform a monologue into an interactive learning experience where all the children in the class engage in the subject manner in a critical and creative way. Once these thought patterns and creative ideas start combining we begin experiencing classroom synergy.

It is therefore powerful to be able to determine the song. It is however exponentially influential to be able to sing the song, in 4 different voices with a whole choir and orchestra forming part of the beauty.