Most of my colleagues teach because they genuinely want to help children gain the knowledge and skills they need to become successful individuals. What thoughts go through a teacher's mind the first day of school? This question will tell you a lot about the teacher, and what kind of a year that teacher's students are about to have.
Some teachers that have been at it for over thirty years may actually be thinking, "If I can just make it through this year..."
A brand new teacher might be thinking, "I hope the kids like me..."
A teacher that probably should have chosen another profession might be thinking, "Hmm, I can already tell which ones are going to be the trouble-makers and the dummies. I think I spotted at least one that might have half a brain."
A caring teacher might think, "What is it these children really need and want from me and this class? How can I do a better job of getting the inner spark of curiosity in these children lit so the learning will be a sought after adventure? How can I let each child know they are important and of great worth to me and to others?"
Starting the school year off with kind thoughts and intentions to make exceptional progress academically, mentally and emotionally will set the standard of your expectations and your purpose as a teacher. The students will instinctively pick up on this and meet and even exceed your expectations. Just think about what will probably happen in some of the other classrooms mentioned. Be true to your purpose and beliefs and your students will win in life and so will you.
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Followers
About Me
- Teaching for a change
- I enjoy sharing my teaching and learning experiences with others. I strongly believe we can make dramatic changes in childrens' lives.
The real question is why do so many people "that probably should have chosen another profession" becoming teachers today, and why are there so many of them in the general population? Is this a kind of social darwinism, where the fittest are those sociopaths clever enough to hide their lack of empathy and compassion behind narcissism and bluster? We have background checks and psychological test for police, why not for teachers?
ReplyDeleteIf we are going to truly change education, we need to change the teachers as well. This is where teacher's unions put their interests in front of our children's education, that must stop. Unions don't belong in the public sector.
Instead replace the teacher's union with a professional association and licensing, peer review, group ethics, and a professional certification just like Doctors and Lawyers, raise the bar, put teachers in charge of the schools, and fire the administration. Cheers.
I hear ya Phil. Actually, it is a small minority of teachers that fit into this category. Personally, I blame the school site administrators. They should be in each classroom at least twice a week and be familiar with what's going on in each room, with each teacher. Usually, the teacher only sees the principal, or vice principal once a year when they have their annual "formal evaluation."
ReplyDelete