Every so often I
am asked by former high school students pursuing college degrees in
education about my thoughts on being an effective teacher. While I do
not consider myself the authority on the subject by any means, I do
believe strongly in these six thoughts.
Invest in Yourself
“The first and best victory is to
conquer self.” – Plato
“Work harder on yourself than you
do on your job.” – Jim Rohn
The most important
factor in determining whether a child learns in your classroom is
YOU. Amid papers to correct, lessons to plan, emails to answer,
calls to make, meetings to attend, and any number of other details
which to tend, you must remember that it is your long-term growth and
happiness that must be the priority.
The give and take
of your personal and professional life is like making deposits and
withdrawals at a bank: the “Bank of You.” Reading books,
articles, and blogs that inspire, motivate and inform are deposits
into your bank. Exercise and eating well are deposits. Creating
strong relationships with peers are deposits. Attending conferences
and seminars are deposits.
The benefit to a
teacher from any of these deposits is interest paid. Interest comes
in many forms: improved mental and physical health, increased student
performance, easier relationship building with students, parents and
administrators, invitations to mentoring and/or leadership roles
within the profession, and many more.
There is give and
take in any profession, however, and teaching is no different. All of
the inevitable distractions, the rough days, the time away from
family, and the stress of the job make withdrawals from the Bank of
You. Your goal is to have enough saved up in the Bank to buffer
against these difficulties. If you don't, you'll soon be living on
borrowed time.
Observe Great
Teaching and Have Great Teachers Observe You
It seems human nature to adapt and conform to our surroundings. On
the golf course, I always play better when I'm in a group with great
golfers. Whenever I attend professional golf events I am struck with
the urge to get back to my home course and play. I am inspired by
watching great performances. When I observe great teaching
first-hand, the same thing occurs. I am rejuvenated and excited to
get back to my own classroom!
We are easily influenced by our circle of friends and colleagues:
whoever we spend time with tend to shape who we are. Within your
school are many outstanding teachers, and it's easy to figure out
who. Spend time with them. Watch them work. Ask them questions. Allow
them to come into your classroom and don't be afraid of what they
might have to say. Be inspired, and your students will benefit.
Seek
Opportunities to Serve
Sometimes when the going gets tough, we build a “comfort cocoon”
around ourselves. Our thinking turns to “I” and “me” rather
than “we” and “us.” We wallow in pity parties of our own
design and feel alone. Before that happens, volunteer for school
committees or become an activity sponsor. Find ways to take the
initiative in your environment and help make it better. In doing so,
you invest in opportunities that put “we” and “us” front and
center in your mind and create meaningful relationships that will
help you through the tough times. If you want to be a great teacher,
motivator, communicator, and/or leader, you can't do it alone. You
will get everything you want in your life and career if you give
others what they want.
Strive for
Balance in Your Classroom
“Teaching
is about the intersection between relationships, curiosity and
content.”
– Dr. Kwame Brown
Content is king in education. The almighty test controls much of what
goes on in the classroom. However, I firmly believe that our primary
job as teachers is to build people, and it must be done within the
context of our curriculum. This is the joining of the “what”
(curriculum) to the “how” (process and example) to get to the
“why” (inspiring young minds.)
Very few teachers that went to college to receive a degree education
simply wish to program young minds with facts and figures. Any
computer can do that these days. Our role is to maintain our focus on
why we are called to teach and why our presence matters to students.
Take Time for
Reflection
There is tangible benefit to writing in a journal. When you put your
thoughts on paper, they become more concrete. You may even see them
more objectively. When you browse back in your notes, you can see how
your thinking has changed, evolved. Journaling is another way to make
a deposit into the Bank of You. There are myriad articles about
journaling's benefit, and many techniques to get it done. I encourage
you to do your research.
Sitting down and visiting with a trusted friend and/or colleague can
be a valuable reflection exercise, too. I look forward to
opportunities to talk to friends in my profession. Nearly all the
time, I come away from those chats with a fresh perspective, reminded
that my concerns and my frustrations, as well as my hopes and
victories are a part of a larger, shared experience.
The “Annie Principle:”
“When I'm stuck with a day that's
gray and lonely, I just stick out my chin and grin and say:
'The sun
will come out tomorrow...'”
Teaching is tough. Not every day will
go as planned. But the good news is that for the foreseeable future,
the sun will indeed rise tomorrow, and another opportunity to be
better awaits you. When all else fails, and regardless of the
circumstances that may have made today difficult, there are young
people in your sphere of influence that want precisely what you have
to offer.
