TC Summary: Ch. 9, Emily Cottam

The Talent Code: Chapter 9, “The Teaching Circuit: A Blueprint”

Emily Cottam

Chapter Summary: Great teachers have the following: “Knowledge, recognition, and connection.” Teachers have a “matrix” that contains a very specific range of knowledge (ranging from technique, experience, and practiced intuition) that helps them to creatively respond to a student’s learning process. Perceptiveness and attention are essential to being able to identify where a student is struggling and whether or not they understand a new concept. Good teachers are able to guide a student (even while they are in the middle of performing a task) and provide consistently well-timed and specific instruction. This, like all other things, takes practice before mastery. Coaching method changes with the student and the desired skill--where quick-thinking and improvisation is required (such as a sport of some sort), allowing the student to make his/her own mistakes and correct them (through recognition of immediate consequences) can serve more beneficial than to a student where articulate perfection is required every time they perform a task (such as a music student). These students would be better coached with consistent feedback, relative to the “sports” student. 

Key Concepts:

Masterful teachers have technical knowledge, experience, and practiced intuition to recognize their students’ needs.

The individual student and the desired skill are two important factors in determining coaching method and the effectiveness of it. 

Key Terms:

“Matrix”

Perceptiveness 

“GPS” Reflex

Theatrical Honesty

Making Connections: As a student, I can apply what I’ve learned in this chapter to my lesson times by paying just as much attention to the teacher as the teacher is to me, that way, when they provide instruction to help me improve, I can respond faster and with greater attentiveness so that I may learn more and apply it to my personal practice time, rather than passively receiving guidance and being unable to replicate it when I’m by myself.