"Teacher of the Year" Exercise

For this exercise we were to assume that we had been selected to receive the Teacher of the Year award for our school district. Our speech after receiving the award was supposed to outline our views/philosophies on education.

“When I stand before God at the end of my life I would hope that I would have not a single bit of talent left and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me’.” This quote by Erma Bombeck reflects one of the larger goals of the teaching profession. Not only should we as teachers use our own gifts, but we should help our students realize their dreams, find their passions, and use their talent to the fullest potential. No two students are the same, something that inspires one student may have no affect on another, this is one of the things that makes teaching both challenging and wonderful. As teachers we have a chance to shape the future. But in shaping that future each of us strives to teach our students more than just ‘the facts’. Don’t get me wrong, of course being able to recall dates of major world events or finding Nigeria on a map are things that each of us should be able to do, but we also need to teach our students how to function as adults in our society. This of course includes basic skills like technology use and how to survive in the workplace; but on a deeper level we need to teach kids to have confidence, perseverance, and compassion. How can we teach these qualities if we don’t first put in the time to understand how each student is different? The answer is that we can’t. As teachers we must remember to put the students first, to not only show our knowledge and confidence in the classroom, but also our enthusiasm and passion. It is important for us to give individualized attention to all students whether or not they seem to be a ‘stand out’ in one area or another. By getting to know each of our students and how they learn we will be able to better help them to realize their true potential in whatever it is they choose to pursue. A truly great teacher never stops learning, and continues to touch the lives of those around them, sometimes without even knowing it.