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AI Helped Me… Until It Didn’t: A Simple Lesson on Thinking, Learning, and Staying Engaged

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 So, recently I had an academic assignment to work on. The moment I saw the topic, I just smiled and told myself, “ This one will be fast. I’ll use generative AI and finish quickly. ” And truly, that was the point my brain switched off. I didn’t engage. I didn’t even try to think. I simply handed the whole responsibility over to AI. Fast-forward to when the work was “done”… yes, the assignment looked complete. Yes, it had all the parts. But something wasn’t sitting well with me. I didn’t feel proud of the work. I couldn’t connect with it. I couldn’t even defend the ideas because they didn’t come from my own thinking. In that moment, it became clear: I didn’t feel fulfilled because my mind wasn’t part of the process. So I did something that surprised even me ... I deleted everything and started again. This time, I slowed down. I paid attention. I allowed my brain to think, to question, to connect ideas, and even to struggle a bit. And when I finally finished, the work wasn’t perfec...
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Learning Styles or Learning Preferences: What Truly Shapes How Students Learn?

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 Recently, I stumbled on a write-up titled “Learning Styles and Learning Preferences.” It caught my attention immediately. For years, I’ve advocated that teachers should understand their students’ learning styles so they can teach more effectively. But this article opened a new layer of thought for me ... one that every educator should reflect on. The writer explained that while we’ve long believed in teaching according to each student’s learning style, adapting to every individual’s style might actually be more expensive and less effective than we think. Instead, it may be wiser to let students interact with learning materials starting with their preferred way , and then gradually expose them to other ways of learning. That was fascinating! A Shift in Thinking For decades, the idea of learning styles: visual, auditory, kinesthetic, has shaped teacher training across the world. The message was clear: if you want to reach every child, teach according to their style. But in r...
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The Look That Taught Me a Lesson in Teaching

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I still remember the first day I walked into that SS2 class. I was a corps member then, serving my country through the National Youth Service. It was my first time teaching teenagers.  Before that, I had only taught preschoolers back in Lagos, so I walked in that day ready to learn as much as I would teach. My plan was simple: introduce myself and get to know the students. But as I spoke, one particular girl caught my attention. She gave me that look ...you know, that little smirk that says, “ Who’s this one? You’re not the first corper to come here, and you won’t be the last we frustrate. ” 😄 I knew that look very well. It was a challenge.  But instead of seeing her as a threat, I saw something else. She looked young, confident, and honestly quite cute. I decided not to react. Instead, I found ways to bring her closer. I gave her small leadership tasks, used her for examples, and made sure she had opportunities to shine. Somewhere in my mind, I knew that if I didn’t engag...
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Navigating Mixed Signals in Professional Relationships

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 In this education journey, you’ll meet people who will tell you, “ I admire your work. ” They’ll say, “ You inspire me .” And it feels good, because that’s why many of us do what we do. We want to make a difference, and it’s humbling when someone notices. But sometimes, admiration comes with mixed signals! Someone looks up to you today, gets too close tomorrow, and then...just like that...pulls away. You’re left wondering, “ What changed? ” Dear Educators, Let’s talk about it. Admiration is not the same as commitment When people admire you, it doesn’t always mean they’re ready to grow at the same pace as you. Some are drawn to your light, your confidence, your consistency, your voice, but they may not understand the discipline behind it. So, when they start acting strange or distant, don’t take it personally. Sometimes, they admired the results without understanding the process. You don’t have to prove your goodness Some people try to “repay” your kindness with grand gestures... t...
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When Sharing Feels Like Showing Off: The Unspoken Tension Among Teachers

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 During a recent conversation with a teacher... the same brilliant mind behind The Daily Takeaway,  she said something that stopped me mid-sentence. “Whenever I try to teach my colleagues something new, especially when I notice them doing things the wrong way, they think I’m overdoing it...like I’m trying to make them feel less.” That quiet frustration? It echoes in many staffrooms. You want to help. You want to share. You care enough to say, “There’s a better way.” But somehow, your intention is mistaken for pride. It’s Not About Pride....It’s About Perception The truth is: teachers are natural givers, but we’re also protectors of our space. We spend our days leading, correcting, and guiding others. So when someone turns that mirror on us, even gently, it can feel uncomfortable. In many schools, the culture of peer learning isn’t always fully grown. We’re trained to teach, not necessarily to learn from one another. So when a colleague offers an idea, it can feel less like su...
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The Daily Takeaway: The Two-Minute Ritual That Connects Classrooms and Homes

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 Imagine this: it’s 2:00 PM. The final bell rings. As your students leave, they’re not just clutching their backpacks, they’re holding a spark. They walk out as emissaries of your classroom, ready to teach their parents, and they do it with pride. This isn’t about giving up more of your personal time or downloading another complicated app. It’s about a single, strategic shift that empowers your students, builds an impenetrable bridge to your classroom, and changes how parents see your work. I call it The Daily Takeaway! The Black Box Problem (and Why Homework Isn’t the Answer) Dear teacher, the truth is: the moment a student walks out of your door, your incredible effort, your dynamic lessons, and your pedagogical magic fall into a black box. For most parents, the primary, and often only window into that box is homework. And what does homework often lead to? Stress , confusion , and sometimes, that dreaded email asking, “What exactly is happening in math class?” The focus...
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When a Classroom Lacks Structure: A Visit That Stirred My Reflection

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Recently, I walked into a preschool classroom in a mainstream school. It wasn’t my first visit, but this time, something about the atmosphere kept tugging at me. The teacher had an assistant. The class size was manageable... ten children. And yet, the learning environment felt… off. After several visits, certain recurring scenes began to stand out. 🔶 The teacher often backed the classroom entrance while attending to a child. Some children sat behind her, by the door, waiting their turn — out of her sight. 🔶 There was no defined workstation ... no clear area that structured her interactions or anchored the pupils' attention. 🔶 While she worked with one child, her assistant worked with another. The remaining children roamed about, unattended. 🔶 Every few minutes, she paused her interaction to quiet the room before continuing again. At first glance, it looked like a busy classroom ... active, alive, and “engaged.” But as I observed more closely, what I saw was a space lacki...
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