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….if you are rash and aggressive with your horse on a regular basis, this reflects a lack of knowledge. There are many different ways to communicate something to your horse, and you have to be flexible. If you try to teach your horse something, and he doesn’t understand right away or doesn’t respond, you don’t become aggressive. You have to think, “Can I explain this a different way? Do I need to break it down? What in the communication isn’t working? He stressed that trainers who frequently beat their horses and are abusive to them are never going to produce a good end product.

These words just jumped off the page as I read them. “Oh my goodness”, I said aloud. “If I substitute the word “student” for the word “horse” that’s my philosophy about teaching! It’s the same philosophy as “Don’t Blame The Lettuce”. It’s the same message. Don’t blame. Be compassionate. Be flexible. Be open. Suddenly scaffolding and differentiated instruction came to mind. Scaffolding and differentiated instruction during the holidays away from the classroom? I guess you can take this teacher out of the classroom, but not the classroom out of this teacher.

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3 Responses to “Training Horses and Teaching Students.”

1. Ellen Pham on February 17th, 2008 9:10 pm

   Elona, this made me laugh, of course, don’t beat the horse! I went on to the link about not blaming the lettuce, I think I need to make a sign or bumper sticker for that one : )

2. Elona Hartjes on February 17th, 2008 9:15 pm

   Ellen,
   If you make that bumper sticker, be sure to send one my way.

3. Sam Rangel on October 20th, 2010 11:26 pm

   What a great lesson. Communication is key to motivating the reluctant student. Too many teachers try and force the student down the right road. It never works.
   Thanks,
   Sam

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  These are my personal views and not those of my employer.