16 Maxims of Skillful Teaching - Stephen Brookfield

Chapter 30 of this book contains the most helpful tips for someone who is beginning their journey as an adult educator. I found these tips relatable and back to basics. How to stay sane as an educator contains 16 tips or maxims.

1. Attend to your emotional survival

2. Expect ambiguity

3. Perfection in an illusion

4. Ground your teaching in how your students are learning

5. Be wary of standardized models and approaches

6. Regularly Learn something new

7. Take your instincts seriously

8. Create diversity

9. Don't be afraid to take risks

10. Remember that learning is emotional

11. Acknowledge your personality

12. Don't evaluate yourself only by students' satisfaction

13. Remember the importance of both support and challenge

14. Recognize and accept your power

15. View yourself as a helper of learning

16. Don't trust what you've just read.

Although I have been an educator for over 30 years, there is still much to learn. To be honest, I didn't know what a maxim was. The oxford dictionary defines a maxim as a moral rule or principle which can be considered dependent on one's philosophy. It is often pedagogical and motivates specific actions. Quite simply, a maxim is a memorable rule or guide for living, and in this case teaching.

When it comes down to it, the importance of the maxim should focus on both explicit and implicit modes of understanding. Maxims can only function withing a framework of personal experience and knowledge.