Teaching- It's Not for Everyone

"Only the brave should teach. Only those who love the young should teach. Teaching is a vocation. It is as sacred as priesthood, as innate a desire, as inescapable as the genius which compels a great artist. If he has not the concern for humanity, the love of living creatures, the vision of the priest and the artist, he must not teach." - Pearl S. Buck

I loved this quote. It reaffirmed my belief that I was born to be a teacher, and is what I needed this morning. I started student teaching full-time today . Well technically it was a staff development today so we team planned and went to meetings, but I started. I was there with everyone, a part of the conversations, giving my personal insight and opinions. I am ready. I feel well prepared and confident in my pedagogical approaches and I know I have what it takes to make an impact on many children's lives. It was refreshing because I felt like a real teacher today, a professional. I see my second graders twice a week and I consider them my class, but tomorrow feels different. It shouldn't, but it does.... I am a real teacher now! Wish me luck!

Another Boredom Buster

It's one of those afternoons and the children are antsy and can't seem to sit still. They aren't paying any attention to you or the lesson, so give this a try to stimulate their little minds! Tell the students they are the owner of a brand new zoo. But it's a special zoo! It has only ten animals in it, and they can be extinct or not, and from any time period. What ten animals would they put in their ideal zoo? Why?

Weekend Wisdom

Teachers: Don't be afraid to remind parents (subtly or not) that you are the teacher and they are the parents. Parents will often let their concern for their individual child overshadow their respect for you as a professional. You're the one who knows what's going on in the classroom, and your assessment of the child's performance is bound to be more accurate because of that. 

Martin Luther King Day

"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically... Intelligence plus character- that is the goal of true education." - MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

This quote inspires me to be to the best educator I can possibly be. I feel such pride celebrating this profound man today, and I will be sure to walk with my head high. I will do everything I can in my power to educate the children, our future of America, so that as a nation we can continue to work towards Dr. King's dreams. 

Just a Thought...

Be aware of the effect your body language has on your students. If you slouch, they'll slouch; if you're perky, they may still slouch, but at least you'll show them that you want to be there!

Boredom Buster

Have you ever found yourself stuck in a class with a room full of bored students? So, maybe the day's lesson didn't go quite as planned, or you ended way too early. I came across a "Constellation Creation" exercise to help cure these cases of crisis! In this creative activity, each student plots a series of "stars" on a piece of paper and connects them into a constellation. Students then exchange papers and invent a name for the new constellation and a myth that explains its creation. For younger kids, you can have some students draw the starts and constellations on the board, and then the "myth creation" can be done as a group, with you (the teacher) or a helper writing everything down. What fun!

Breathe, Breathe, Breathe!

There are times that I notice I get so caught up in everything I have to do that I forget to breathe. I run around trying to maximize the items I can check off my list each day that I forget to make time for myself to relax, appreciate my accomplishments, and just breathe. I am sure that I am not alone in this. So here is my wisdom to offer for the week: Force yourself to take a deep breath from time to time. It may seem like you have to keep moving, moving, moving, but it only seems that way. You (we) can afford to slow down, even just a little bit. Taking a quick breather will help you put things in perspective and will save you time and energy in the long run. Good luck, readers! I am confident this will help us all be our better selves. 

A Responsive Reading

An intriguing passage my professor, Kevin Carr, shared with us in class today from Science for All Americans:

"Education has no higher purpose than preparing people to lead personally fulfilling and responsible lives. For its part, science education-meaning education in science, mathematics, and technology- should help students to develop the understandings and habits of mind they need to become compassionate human beings able to think of themselves and to face life head on. 

It should equip them also to participate thoughtfully with fellow citizens in building and protecting a society that is open, decent, and vital. America's future- its ability to create a truly just society, to sustain its economic vitality, and to remain secure in a world torn by hostilities depends more than ever on the character and quality of the education that the nation provides for all of its children. There is more at stake, however, than individual self-fulfillment and the immediate national interest of the United States. The most serious problems that humans now face are global. Diminishing energy resources, accelerating climate change, the shrinking of tropical rain forests and other sources of species diversity, the pollution of the environment, disease, social strife, the extreme inequities in the distribution of the earth's wealth, the huge investment of human intellect and scarce resources in preparing for and conducting war; the list is long and it is alarming. How will today's children cope with these and other problems in their communities, nation, and world? How will we, as teachers, equip children, families, and communities, to thrive?"