One of my favorite authors, Robertson Davies, put this idea nicely in "The Rebel Angels": > To instruct calls for energy, and to remain almost silent, but watc

One of my favorite authors, Robertson Davies, put this idea nicely in "The Rebel Angels": > To instruct calls for energy, and to remain almost silent, but watchful and helpful, while students instruct themselves calls for even greater energy. To see someone fall (which will teach him not to fall again) when a word from you would keep him on his feet but ignorant of an important danger, is one of the tasks of the teacher that calls for special energy, because holding in is more demanding that crying out. It's a quotation that I often keep in mind while helping my kids learn.