As I consider the function of education, I keep coming back to the maxim - "there is no such thing as teaching, there is only learning and the learner controls it." The maxim does not necessarily denigrate the process of teaching at all, yet if the learner is not engaged, it doesn't matter what the teacher does.
Related is that fact that if the learner does not feel safe, feel capable, or feel supported, there is little the teacher can do to ensure engagement. The teaching-learning process is first emotionally driven, with the learner's affective needs being critical. Secondly, if the learner feels validated, appreciated and respected, s/he is much more likely to be willing to engage in learning. Learner engagement still requires additional critical skills by the teacher to provide opportunity for the student to learn. Thus learners need social-emotional support as well as meaningful engagement in the learning process. Wow, this is complicated! You bet, but I say, "teaching starts with the heart!"
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