Question Everything: Trust yourself and teach your the truth not the text

Embrace the Art of Teaching

I have always believed that teaching isn't a one-size-fits-all endeavor; it’s a vibrant art form that reflects the unique needs and dynamics of each learning community and space. As teachers, we often find ourselves adhering to methods and strategies that were designed for a different time. My instinct was always to bristle against ‘research informed’ or ‘historically true’ paradigms. As someone who struggled to fit into discretely defined groups, places or identities, a perennial question for me is always ‘But why is it like that?’ Not always a popular question, and I have certainly been on the receiving end of a few eye-rolls as I have continued to question everything throughout my many roles in educational space. If we agree that each of us has a unique journey and contribution during our time on this planet, then rigid adherence to educator training or teaching strictly by the text risks overlooking the rich experiences and unique needs of the students right in front of us.

Let Go of the Past

Many educational systems have been crafted to serve historical functions—on of the most enduring being social reproduction. By design these systems often house outdated ideologies and reflect the contexts and interests of those who came before us. We can honour the contributions of those who came before us with gratitude and humility—but true respect does not lie in preserving their frameworks unchanged. It lies in meeting the present with courage, rather than pruning reality to fit inherited ideas.

To honor our students, we need to let go of the past and embrace new approaches that speak to the diverse experiences and backgrounds of today's learners.

Be Your Own Idol

As an active practitioner, you must learn to kill your idols. The great educators of yesteryears may offer valuable insights, but relying solely on their strategies can lead to stagnation. Turn instead to your instincts, experiences, and the interactions you have with your students. Yes, this even applies at day one of your career – better yet, let every day be day one.

By learning to trust your inner voice as an educator, you’ll discover more authentic and impactful ways to create meaningful learning experiences. Yet, for many of us, that voice has been quieted by educational systems that have long valorized conformity, constancy, and the pursuit of being ‘right.’ These systems reward certainty over curiosity, and predictability over responsiveness. As a result, it can feel risky—if not disorienting—to step into spaces of plurality, complexity, and ambiguity. But that’s exactly what today’s learning landscapes demand.

Commit to lifelong learning

Teaching involves continual evolution. It calls for an ongoing dialogue between what we've learned and what we’re experiencing in real-time. Rather than locking ourselves into conventional wisdom, let’s focus on being active participants in this ever-changing landscape.

When we begin to question every aspect of our practice, we open ourselves up to a realm of possibilities that can lead to better outcomes for our students. In Japan this practices is known as "jugyō kenkyū" (授業研究), which literally means "lesson research", it has been a core part of teacher practice in Japan for over a century and continues to influence education reform globally. With a focus on inquiry and teacher growth, a shared learning goal or area of student need is selected, a research lesson is designed to reach the set goal, implemented and then reviewed. Lesson Study nurtures a dynamic relationship between individual reflection and collective learning, allowing educators to grow in harmony with their peers—not by preserving the status quo, but by questioning it together in service of deeper student understanding.

👉 Download the free activity handout below and start mapping your school’s story.

Ultimately, teaching should not be seen merely as a science. While it involves methodologies and research, it is deeply ingrained in human connections, stories, and creativity.

Trading the rigidity of past models for more dynamic approaches that respects the individuality of our students and ourselves as educators is an act of courageous innovation and deep professional integrity. The key to better teaching lies in being fearless and open to change.