April 11-17 2010 was the week of the young child. Every year NAEYC(National Association for the Education of Young Children)has a week dedicated to young children. The themes for the week of the young child varied from Play: Where learning begins, Encouraging Health and Fitness to Teaching and Teachers Matter. As an educator I based my lesson plan this week on fun activities that promote learning through play. To look deeper into how my teaching effects my students I took to heart the theme Teaching and Teachers Matter.
Everyone can remember their favorite teacher. What about the teacher who passed out gifts for well behaved students? What about the teacher who gave parties and made cupcakes and cookies? Or the teacher who always picked you as the helper? The other students who where jealous teased you and called you "teachers pet" LOL. What about the teacher who never picked you as the helper? The teacher who always seemed negative and it effected you emotionally? It has been said that the teacher who effects us the most is the latter. The teacher who was the negative influence in our lives.
As a teacher I always think how my behavior is effecting my students? How will their futures be influenced by how I teach them today? I have the honor and privilege to teach preschool. Yes, I have my work cut out for me. Everyday there are new set of problems that I have to work collectively with others to solve. As the classroom manager I have to help solve issues between co-teachers. I have to make sure that lesson plans are purposeful, with meaning and are child centered activities daily. Not to mention my paper work! So it is important for me that what I teach is as important as what I do. To teach is to lead by example. This is why parents are the first teachers in a child's life.
Parents role in teaching is the source of how the child will respond in school. For example, if the children are in a home where their parents sit down and read to them, that child will have a LOVE for reading and learning. For the child who does not have that luxury at home, is what makes my responsibility as a teacher that much greater. This is why there must be a collective effort from everyone that is in a child's life! Teaching and teachers matter. It does not matter if you are the child's parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, family dentist, firefighter, writer, or teacher. Our work is to give our children a life free of violence, hate, and ignorance. We must ask ourselves what have I given to our children. What has my life taught a child who will be effected in some way by me being active in their lives.
My mission as a teacher is to make learning fun and purposeful. I want my students to have a desire to learn, ask questions, and be free to be themselves. That is what my teaching environment supports. What does yours?
What a wonderful and exciting field to be in. I still remember my first teacher (aside from my mom), and believe it or not I still follow some of the basic rules she taught. This article bought out so many memories for me, the strict teacher, the nice teacher, the funny teacher, the laid back teacher, the flirty teacher (from college of course), the list goes on. I often think what ever happened to many of those individuals. During my 20 year reunion last year I had the opportunity to see a few of my high school teachers and even my guidance counselor. I had to share with her the difference she made in my life and how thankful I am for it. I sometimes wonder do teachers remember me and if so what did they think I would be in life...hmmmm. GOD IS SO AWESOME!!!
ReplyDeleteWow Jazzy thank you for sharing your story! I LOVE going back to my home town to see my old teachers. It's a blessing that they are just as happy to see me as I am to see them. That what makes teaching so rewarding is when students remember the positive impact the teacher made on their lives.
ReplyDeleteTeachers rock!! The most rewarding job I've ever had!
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