"It is paradoxical that many educators and parents still differentiate between a time for learning and a time for play without seeing the vital connection between them."
Leo Buscaglia
Leo Buscaglia
Please share one of your favorite quotes and explain how it shapes your teaching style
7 comments:
One of my favorite quotes is by Ignacio Estrada. "If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn." I like this quote, because both of my sons have such different learning styles. This quote helps me to remember that I have to adjust my teaching style to my students individual needs. How we teach and learn is as important as what we teach and learn. Each human being is a unique design of our Creator. Each childs needs are different and as teachers we need to help them be successful learners. To be an effective teacher I need to be able to adjust.
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." by Eleanor Roosevelt
In teaching sometimes I think that the reason some teachers get so stressed out is that they take things that children say and do so personally. I know in my very early days, I was one of those teachers. I remember veteran teachers telling me that I had to develop a "thicker skin." Well, to me, that theory just seemed to produce calluses. I didn't want to be a callused old teacher unable to have empathy for my students because I was so busy hiding behind my thick skin, and that's when I found this quote. To me it makes sense, and I remind myself of it in those stressful moments with students and teachers, and I put on a smile. When I'm not so busy getting upset, it's easier for me to see what is causing the student or parent to react the way they are, and it helps me facilitate a peaceful resolution. I am not perfect in this, but this is what I strive for every day.
I have also used this quote to help students who come to me to talk about their feelings when they have problems with friends. Middle school is a time of shifting cliques and cruel exclusions. In doing this, I hope to equip my students with coping skills for life.
My newest favorite quote is as follows: "If you are what you should be you will set the world on fire." St. Catherine of Siena
Two of my children went to a Midwest Catholic Conference and this was on their t-shirts. I am struggling in my school, but particularly in my department with faculty that content with the mediocre. astudents lose their passion for learning Spanish after they leave my room, they say, with teachers that don't dance, sing and do physical activities and energizers. I passionately believe we can effecxt positive change by showing energy, passion and caring to our students.
Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theater. -Gail Godwin
I wish that "Theater" was a required class in college for teachers. Not that we are actors, but that we need to engage our audience. We need to get our lesson through to them and keep them listening and wanting more, more, and more. This is what a good performer does.
At times, it feels as though we, as teachers, are on stage. we "give" to our "audience" and we want feedback from them while we perform. We want to see and feel their engagement. We wnat them to come to class wanting another "show". What an ideal situation! This is what I try to create. A "what is she going to do today" kind of feeling from my students. If that happens, the lesson goes great! There are days that just seem to have gone bad. When I would reflect, I would usually come to the conclusion that I was boring, monotone, too quick, or stressed myself. These were bad "performances".
Ask yourself, "How was my performance?" after each lesson!
One learns by doing the thing, for though you think you know it, you have no certainty until you try.
- by Sophocles
There are other quotes similiar to this one, that although you may see something, or hear something, it is not until you actually do something that you will remember it.
I try to include as many hands-on and cooperative activities as I can. They may be more chaotic, but the kids get so much more enjoyment out of them then doing a workbook page. Also, many kids are apprehensive to trying something, taking on a challenge. My older son is like this. He thinks he won't be good at something, so he doesn't even try to do it. I want my own kids and my students to feel safe to take risks and to know it's okay if they don't do well because I'm more focused on their try - how they did it - than what the outcome was.
A quote I like is: Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.
This pertains to both the teacher's attitude towards students, students' attitudes towards the teacher and students' attitudes towards learning the subject matter. Many kids think they're not good at math so they don't like going to math class. I try to get them to get past that attitude by making class fun so that they will try their best. If I come to class with a bad attitude towards the kids or the lesson, I don't teach as effectively and the students may not learn the material as well.
One quote that I repeatedly remind myself to follow is: Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much.
In my busy life it is hard to remember to live it to it's fullest, minute by minute. Never think about what I should've done but rather what I'm going to do, then do it! I try to instill this in my students as well. They need to remember to do their best at all times, as you never know what tomorrow may bring.
Laugh Often is one that comes more easily to me, as I like to find the humor in my every day life. You have to in order to stay sane with a husband that travels a lot for work, a three year old trying his limits, and no relatives around (all 6 hours away) to help out in a bind. I use humor and laughter daily in my classroom and know that laughter heals the soul. You can see the stress melting away, even if it's only for a minute when laughter fills the air.
Love Much comes easily for me as well. I love my husband and son with all of my heart. I love my friends and family, and I love my job. The kids need to know/feel that they are loved and cared for. I have to keep reminding myself that there may not be much love at home for these kids and most of them see us, teachers, more than their own parents. Sad, but true.
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