This document uses puzzles as an analogy for teaching students. It provides several points of comparison between puzzles and teaching: 1) Both puzzles and teaching students require patience, and problems may need to be set aside and revisited with a fresh perspective. 2) Just as puzzle pieces come in different shapes and sizes, each student is unique and may learn differently. 3) Some puzzles and lessons take longer than a day to complete, and learning is an ongoing process. Teachers should not force students into learning in a single way if it is not effective for them. 4) Being creative and collaborative, like working on puzzles with others, can help teachers gain new ideas and knowledge to benefit their students.

1. Brittany Seifried

2. • When the puzzle
becomes hard, take
a break and come
about it at a
different angle.
• Sometimes students
will not
understand
material. Pack it up
for the day and
come back the next

3. • Every piece is a different shape, size and
colour.
• Just like students, each one is unique!

4. • Some puzzles become an ongoing project,
not to be finished in one day.
• Teaching students will take longer than a
day. Learning is never ending.

5. • Some pieces will
fit together and
some won’t. You
can’t force it.
• Just like students
and learning
styles. Some will
work, some wont.
Don’t force it!

6. • Be creative when
building a puzzle,
you don’t have to
just work on one
spot.
• With curriculum be
creative. There is no
order or set way
of teaching it as
long as outcomes
are met.

7. • Get the easy parts finished first and spend
more time on more difficult parts.
• The students who grasp material faster will
be able to work on their own. Then you can
spend more time with students who find
material more difficult.

8. • Sometimes the more people working on a
puzzle the better.
• Collaborating with other teachers can be
beneficial in gaining new knowledge and
ideas.

9. • Building a
puzzle requires
a whole lot of
patience and
insight as does
teaching.
• Teachers need
to have an
insight into how
their students
learn best and
have patience

10. • When building a puzzle the perimeter is
always first, like a framework.
• A good lesson plan is like the framework
to student’s success.

11. • When the puzzle is complete you can take
a step back and admire the masterpiece
you have created.
• When the year is over you can take a step
back and see how the students have
changed and grown.
All images from Google Images