Solid as a Rock

Belated post for 15 Dec
Do you know that my name means “solid as a rock”? It is the feminine version of Peter, who was described as “Cornerstone” in the bible. Question is do I live up to my name? Today, I attempted to climb the rock wall. I use the word “attempted” because I didn’t succeed at reaching to the top to ring the bell. As I think about my experience at the wall, I understand the term “experiential learning” much clearly. I have climbed a rock wall a few times, mostly when I was in my teens. I remember I was fortunate enough to attend a Girls’ Brigade Camp at the Lake District when I was 17 and have the opportunity to climb a real rock face. It was a wet and mossy wall – something I remember quite well because I had moss rubbed onto my clothes as I collided with the wall a few times. As a teacher, I also have opportunity to climb the rock wall vicariously through my students who attempt it at each Sec 3 Bonding Camp. I remember being able to explain the how-tos of rock climbing, ie. Keeping hands above the shoulders so that the weight rests on the legs, using the legs to push instead of arms to pull, keeping the body (esp bum) close to the wall etc. Yet, when I was climbing the wall at Deck 10 of the ship, swaying with the waves, all the theory was thrown out the window –erm, rather thrown off the deck. There you are, hanging on for dear life, muscles screaming, lungs bursting and fingers numbing, I was doing NOTHING that I had thought I understood in theory. I suppose my lack of fitness undermined my attempt at the rock wall, but this reminded me about the need to experience the learning. We all need to experience the learning before we can say with confidence that we have understood something. Hence, this was a reminder that as I plan my lessons for next year, I will provide sufficient practice for my students so that they might have sufficient experience to find success.