tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post1302493922295858004..comments2023-09-06T06:48:34.820-07:00Comments on Life: The Ongoing Education: Wanting to Make a DifferenceLarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04389047861929002263noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-78407214461401966492008-09-03T07:09:00.000-07:002008-09-03T07:09:00.000-07:00Oh brother... a hard one to answer. I think many t...Oh brother... a hard one to answer. I think many teachers feel as you do starting out. I would say, in general, remember to be fair and consistent as students prize that above pretty much anything else. <BR/><BR/>Next, strive to be open and I mean this in the broadest sense of the word. As teachers, we are so conditioned to looking for the right answer/interpretation, or at least the one that we Mandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586323120994967027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-53841818112072399082008-09-01T23:57:00.000-07:002008-09-01T23:57:00.000-07:00what a hard and interesting question....i am tryin...what a hard and interesting question....i am trying to remember my "favorite" teachers and realized they are different than the "best" teachers that i had. my favorite teachers were the ones that made class interesting by doing things other than reading from notes (activities are awesome, anything that involves getting out of a seat, brainstorming, etc.), and ones that weren't afraid to share Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-74322572590909558742008-08-29T13:16:00.000-07:002008-08-29T13:16:00.000-07:00I grew up in an impoverished Southeast Asian count...I grew up in an impoverished Southeast Asian country governed by a military regime (which is still in power today). It was not exactly an environment that encouraged independent thinking or creative writing. Somehow, in my English literature classes, several of my professors who taught Shakespeare and novel writing awake in me a sense of self and assurance. I don't think I'm exaggerating when I Kennethwongsfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07963630600109933279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-35657752273930136772008-08-28T09:31:00.000-07:002008-08-28T09:31:00.000-07:00I think my 5th grade teacher made the biggest impa...I think my 5th grade teacher made the biggest impact on me. What I remember most was that he actually <I>challenged</I> me. School had always been a pretty easy thing for me, along with other kids too, of course. He taught the class so that everyone was challenged to work harder at the pace they needed to work at. He had 3 levels set up for reading and math so that everyone was being Mandy Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15346196657778890140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-87500066562807520542008-08-27T14:20:00.000-07:002008-08-27T14:20:00.000-07:00I know exactly how you feel! I try every day to b...I know exactly how you feel! I try every day to be an agent of change in my kiddos lives -- even though they are so young that they won't remember me. Their families will remember me, though, so I make an effort to communicate with families on a regular basis about the good, the bad, and the sometimes very gross!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-50524359169959734592008-08-27T09:39:00.000-07:002008-08-27T09:39:00.000-07:00I think the teacher that has always stuck out in m...I think the teacher that has always stuck out in my mind as the best I had was the one that went against the standard teaching practices. He wasn't about lecturing us and telling us stuff, he was about bringing up a subject and letting us talk it out. We would be free to speak about the subject if it was pertinent and it taught us to THINK. That's priceless.Anissa Mayhewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01637783862251849189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-11477689627645968032008-08-26T18:48:00.000-07:002008-08-26T18:48:00.000-07:00Just be you.Be interested in them. In their lives....Just be you.<BR/><BR/>Be interested in them. In their lives. Listen. Laugh. Really care.<BR/><BR/>One of my students found out I'd be going on a week-long trip with them and her email to me upon discovering this said:<BR/><BR/>"Miss Bee, I'm so glad you're coming with us. It's going to be so much fun and even better, we'll be able to share all the fun together :)<BR/><BR/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-91902497991167974952008-08-26T18:14:00.000-07:002008-08-26T18:14:00.000-07:00"She cared. It was really that simple. She cared, ...<I>"She cared. It was really that simple. She </I>cared<I>, and she could neither offer her people less than her very best nor settle for less than the complete discharge of whatever responsibilities duty required of her, however grim.</I><BR/><BR/>If I were to try to generalize, I'd agree with many of the commenters here who have said it's about caring. Actually, I guess the way I'd put it is Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12662787003156000207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-62994227289509789342008-08-26T18:07:00.000-07:002008-08-26T18:07:00.000-07:00I had a few teachers that I will always remember a...I had a few teachers that I will always remember and they are the teachers who took an interest in me, treated me as an individual and not just one of a classroom full. They encouraged me and managed to make me feel important and like I could always do well. <BR/>Allow yourself to connect with them as people as well as students. I'm sure you'll do fabulously!BetteJohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11650981249204116251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-90246283777838442962008-08-26T17:55:00.000-07:002008-08-26T17:55:00.000-07:00betsy - i can't tell you how funny the timing is h...<B>betsy</B> - i can't tell you how funny the timing is here. i just read your comment in my gmail inbox, and where was i just coming back from? a volleyball game in the gym, where i was watching some of my female students play. :)Larahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04389047861929002263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-74592334266036483062008-08-26T15:31:00.000-07:002008-08-26T15:31:00.000-07:00First - I love the outfits. Just cute as always! ...First - I love the outfits. Just cute as always! I need you to go shopping with me! :-)<BR/><BR/>Second - The one teacher I remember after all these years is my Algebra teacher while I was in 9th grade. Not that I liked Algebra (or us it now cause I don't) but because she actually explained it on the board. Step by step. Had us write it down in a notebook to refer to later if necessary. She Wolf Lover Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12394223517473918304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-42184879878494623262008-08-26T14:32:00.000-07:002008-08-26T14:32:00.000-07:00GO TO THEIR EVENTS!!!!!!!!!! Honestly. Even if it ...GO TO THEIR EVENTS!!!!!!!!!! Honestly. Even if it is one game. Go, cheer, wave at them, and mention it the next day. I don't know how far you live from your school, but those couple of hours spent at games make huge differences in your students. <BR/><BR/>And for those not involved in an activity, find out what they ARE interested in. <BR/><BR/>Showing interest in them outside of school is how Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-53790390353836235082008-08-26T14:20:00.000-07:002008-08-26T14:20:00.000-07:00Teach them how to think for themselves - be intell...Teach them how to think for themselves - be intellectually honest yourself and ask them to grapple with their own questions too. The best teachers - the ones who taught me the most - were the ones who asked me what I thought and then showed me how to critique my own logic and the logic of the great thinkers who came before us.<BR/><BR/>The reasons I was willing to listen to them were all the Bridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04851187725421773468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-13556057032771111952008-08-26T14:11:00.000-07:002008-08-26T14:11:00.000-07:00@ MiddleAgedWomanThat is am amazing insight. Well ...@ MiddleAgedWoman<BR/><BR/>That is am amazing insight. Well stated.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16649638235083533810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-49118652787545248542008-08-26T14:10:00.000-07:002008-08-26T14:10:00.000-07:00My all-time favorite teacher - the one that I stil...My all-time favorite teacher - the one that I still email with and visit even 6 years later - was my music theory/band teacher (I was a music student, went to college for music, etc). <BR/><BR/>He came up to me one day and handed me a trombone. He said that he'd booked lessons for me with an older student, Amy, and that he would give me time out of my music theory class (with him) to practice xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16649638235083533810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-8485486473264945902008-08-26T11:01:00.000-07:002008-08-26T11:01:00.000-07:00The teachers I loved the most were the ones who we...The teachers I loved the most were the ones who were smart, strict(er), and respected me as a person rather than just treating me like some kid. They made me want to be a good student and a good human being.<BR/><BR/>Coincidentally, those are the same characteristics that help make a phenomenal parent.morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01820254289176118070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-3397699299214012242008-08-26T10:53:00.000-07:002008-08-26T10:53:00.000-07:00the teachers who impacted my life the most were th...the teachers who impacted my life the most were the ones that pushed me farther than i knew i could go. and the ones who knew me better than i knew myself. <BR/><BR/>i will forever thank them for this.Alihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11127692699186571544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-25522185874339838302008-08-26T09:15:00.000-07:002008-08-26T09:15:00.000-07:00I remember the teachers who loved what they did, l...I remember the teachers who loved what they did, loved their subjects and believed in the kids.Cate Subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11371172824707301749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-53201886753819262672008-08-26T08:01:00.000-07:002008-08-26T08:01:00.000-07:00Just be you. Know it will take time but that it w...Just be you. Know it will take time but that it will come. See the thing is, there's no easy way. But the fact that you care enough to want to make a difference, that is a whole hell of a lot more than most teachers care.Issahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11309906249557761472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-36854321336064775122008-08-26T06:36:00.000-07:002008-08-26T06:36:00.000-07:00I won't repeat the things everyone else has said a...I won't repeat the things everyone else has said about caring being the prime way of impacting students. They're right. Kids know when you really care or when you're mostly just interested in getting through the textbook.<BR/><BR/>On the "how will I know" piece, it's strange. You may have some moments when a student tells you directly, right then, but typically it comes later. This year I Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-25229401097857114842008-08-26T06:22:00.000-07:002008-08-26T06:22:00.000-07:00Alright, first? You have the CUTEST teacher outfi...Alright, first? You have the CUTEST teacher outfits! If I had you as a teacher during my formative years, I know I'd be a very snappy dresser.<BR/><BR/>However, as for making a difference as a TEACHER in a student's life, my three favorites are my second grade teacher, my 6th grade math teacher, and my 11th grade English language teacher. The reasons are largely the same: they believed in me L Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18326267746653059247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-20891027282381808342008-08-26T06:09:00.000-07:002008-08-26T06:09:00.000-07:00I think that everyone here said it best. Connect ...I think that everyone here said it best. Connect with your students, listen to them, and hold them to your standards. Don't worry about being cool or nice. Just genuinely care and give of your time. Just know, that this connection does not happen like it does in the movies. It is true that when you affect change on your students, you may never know. Or you may find out many years later. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-29474207515867770172008-08-26T04:28:00.000-07:002008-08-26T04:28:00.000-07:00Just remember that you don't teach English. You do...Just remember that you don't teach English. You don't teach French. You teach children. Content is secondary to connection.unmitigated mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13901264130484454602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-11948391156123958762008-08-26T04:14:00.000-07:002008-08-26T04:14:00.000-07:00HEY! This is a question I CAN answer! YAY!You wan...HEY! This is a question I CAN answer! YAY!<BR/><BR/>You want to know how to make a difference in someone's life? BE THERE. You don't have to do anything special, really - it's all about being who you genuinely are and loving the kids for who THEY genuinely are. <BR/><BR/>The student I've made the biggest impact on (at least, the one I know about) admits to me that the reason she loves me so Mrs. Chilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09814787474739856911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079493.post-1175321455146315572008-08-26T02:48:00.000-07:002008-08-26T02:48:00.000-07:00I wish I could give you the answer, thinking back ...I wish I could give you the answer, thinking back it was the ones that took a personal interest in me. Not babying me, or giving me more attention than anyone else. Just actually caring about their students. <BR/><BR/>From what I know of you, you already do.LaLahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03835515489441323300noreply@blogger.com