Teaching from the Heart: Theology and Educational Method

Rating:
Summary: Teaching MUST come from the heart
Review: Teaching from the Heart by Mary Elizabeth Moore

Moore's book speaks to the heart, offering the piece that seems to be missing, particularly in Christian Education but perhaps from education in general. As with the work of Parker Palmer, Moore proposes that for true education and understanding to take place, the teaching and the "knowing" must come from the heart as well as the mind. Recognizing that real knowledge is more than just mind knowledge is vital.
In her own words, Moore works to build "a bridge" between theology and educational theory. She argues seriously and effectively that theology and education must work in relationship to each other.
Moore presents five accepted educational methods (case study, Gestalt, phenomenological, narrative and conscientizing) and looks at each of them in light of process theology. She competently discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each, offering practical ideas as to how each of these might be re-thought AND used in ways that allow for "teaching from the heart" and for standing in relationship WITH theology.
Wonderfully thorough and yet readable for the "average" educator, this book is highly recommended, a must read for any Christian Educator, if not all educators.

Rating:
Summary: Teaching From the Heart
Review: What better to start with than the title of this book? Teaching From the Heart is the object of educators in the world, not only to teach what is in the text book but to teach with certain conviction of unique and genuine love for the student and the subject at hand. This, as you can tell, is not just for the "Christian" educator but for all those that teach in whatever capacity that you may do so.

I drew the most from the chapter about the Gestalt method. We are often bound to think that "a chain is only as strong as its weakest link". Well this is not the proper way of thinking! We should be proclaiming that a chain is only as strong as the whole chain is together, for what good is a chain if all the links are not together working for a common purpose? The Gestalt method is the "pattern of that forms the unity from the parts." As a classroom hold many unique individuals (if that isn't redundant!), so does this hold the true learning of the classroom...with individual needs and ways of learning and teaching and bringing the class together.

This is a great book for the educator, pastor, lay person or ANYONE!