The Cornerstones

The Cornerstones of Teaching Squares are those critical attitudes and behaviors that, when exhibited by all participants, contribute to creating a safe, mutually-supportive, energizing environment for sharing the joys and challenges of teaching.

Reciprocity and Shared Responsibility

Through the mutual exchange of visits with their Teaching Squares partners, participants assume the dual roles of the observer and the observed, teacher and student. They simultaneously experience and thus share the opportunities and risks of inviting others into their classrooms.

Teaching Squares participants jointly assume the tasks of arranging classroom visits and exchanging course information. By fully participating in the organization and administration of the Square they minimize the effort that must be expended by any single participant. Such self-leadership maintains a climate of collegiality. This structure facilitates a team effort and a team result.

Self-Referential Reflection

The Square Share is an opportunity to report what you have learned from the observation experience. It is NOT an opportunity to improve a Square Partner’s teaching. By keeping your observations self-focused participants avoid any hint of evaluation or judgment that could contribute to a climate of defensiveness or suspicion.

Appreciation

The Square Share reflection session is an opportunity to identify and celebrate the behaviors and practices that create a productive environment for learning. Expressing observations in a positive way offers a goal to be pursued and a source of energy for achieving that goal.

Mutual Respect

Participants enter their Square Partners’ classroom with an attitude of empathy and respect for both the instructor and the students, recognizing that different methods and techniques are required in different disciplines and classroom situations.