Teachers have one of the toughest jobs. If anyone tells you differently they are just too proud to admit it. Teachers need to be so many different things at the same time. They need to be compassionate, supportive, challenging, encouraging, helpful, and the list goes on and on. One quality that may not be the first thing you think of when describing a teacher is authentic. Authenticity is important for a variety of reasons...
No one likes someone who is "fake", and a student is not going to take an authority figure seriously if he knows that this teacher is acting and talking differently in the classroom than outside of the classroom. Even though it may come as a surprise to some people, kids are a very quick and good judge or character. It is how they thrive in their school environment. Their friendships are changing almost weekly, if not daily, and their emotions and hormones are all eschew. Their classrooms teachers, need to be someone that they can count on; they need to be a constant.
Now there needs to be a line between student and teacher. I truly believe that there can be a friendship but it needs to have boundaries and the student still needs to see the teacher as an authority figure. If a teacher is talking about his drama and problems in his life, then soon enough, the student will start to feel as an equal and that can lead to a whole other mess of problems.
On the other side of the spectrum, a teacher does not want to be totally cold towards their students either. Students will respect and learn better from a person who they can relate to. If they know that this adult understands them and what they are going through then the classroom environment will be a lot better.
It is tough to find this balance, and by no means am I saying I know everything about it, but I believe it comes with experience. As most things in life do.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Compassion
I would like to tell you about one person in my life that has shown the greatest amount of compassion. She is a not only a teacher, but a mentor and friend. You don't often come across a woman like this one. I consider my self lucky and most of all honored to know her. Here is my story of the incredible woman, Joanna Walters.
I have known Joanna since I was a toddler at ABC Daycare. I made my living as a 4-year-old by charging 25 cents to give her back-rubs while watching Arthur and The Magic School Bus. Although I do not remember much about then, I do remember our special connection, even at my young age. A few times, she brought in her violin to play and to show us. I remember thinking that I was so cool because I played the violin too. I was the kid constantly raising my hand to answer questions that she asked.
Soon after I started school at Lowell Elementary, Joanna got a job there as the orchestra teacher. Kindergarten-6th grade, I got to know her even better. I don't know what is was but I always felt so comfortable with her and felt that I could tell her anything, which is very important to young student. Maybe it was her kind, funny, and beautiful personality. Or maybe it was how supportive she was of all her students. She always brought the best out in them. A group of my orchestra friends and I grew very close to each other as well as to Joanna during out time at Lowell. After 6th grade we moved to a different school, which also meant a different orchestra teacher. I was pretty nervous about this. I did not see her as much and therefore kind of grew apart from her. It wasn't anything bad, we just both went to different places.
I believe this next part was fate...
At the end of 8th grade I found out that she was going to teach at the high school that I was going to. I was actually quite nervous for this. I was not sure what she would think or if she would be the same person. Well, she was the same person. When I entered high school, it was as if we had never spent 2 years in different schools. Throughout my 4 years at Central High School, I was able to watch how she interacted with her colleagues and her students. I admired at the way she handled situations so professionally but with so much care and class. Joanna takes time for everyone of her students when they need it. She is hard working and never gives up.
Another thing is that she not only teaches her students music, but she teaches them to be good human beings. She relates to her students and tries to understand each and every one. Joanna respects them. This is why so many of her students respect her in return.
Joanna helped me become the woman I am today because of her compassion for people and her passion for music and life. She is one of the main reasons that I wanted to become a music teacher. I saw how joyful and fulfilling it made her life, even through the tough times, and I wanted the same thing.
There are not enough words or actions that can express how much she means to me. and the wonderful woman that she is. I love you Mrs. Walters!<3
I have known Joanna since I was a toddler at ABC Daycare. I made my living as a 4-year-old by charging 25 cents to give her back-rubs while watching Arthur and The Magic School Bus. Although I do not remember much about then, I do remember our special connection, even at my young age. A few times, she brought in her violin to play and to show us. I remember thinking that I was so cool because I played the violin too. I was the kid constantly raising my hand to answer questions that she asked.
Soon after I started school at Lowell Elementary, Joanna got a job there as the orchestra teacher. Kindergarten-6th grade, I got to know her even better. I don't know what is was but I always felt so comfortable with her and felt that I could tell her anything, which is very important to young student. Maybe it was her kind, funny, and beautiful personality. Or maybe it was how supportive she was of all her students. She always brought the best out in them. A group of my orchestra friends and I grew very close to each other as well as to Joanna during out time at Lowell. After 6th grade we moved to a different school, which also meant a different orchestra teacher. I was pretty nervous about this. I did not see her as much and therefore kind of grew apart from her. It wasn't anything bad, we just both went to different places.
I believe this next part was fate...
At the end of 8th grade I found out that she was going to teach at the high school that I was going to. I was actually quite nervous for this. I was not sure what she would think or if she would be the same person. Well, she was the same person. When I entered high school, it was as if we had never spent 2 years in different schools. Throughout my 4 years at Central High School, I was able to watch how she interacted with her colleagues and her students. I admired at the way she handled situations so professionally but with so much care and class. Joanna takes time for everyone of her students when they need it. She is hard working and never gives up.
Another thing is that she not only teaches her students music, but she teaches them to be good human beings. She relates to her students and tries to understand each and every one. Joanna respects them. This is why so many of her students respect her in return.
Joanna helped me become the woman I am today because of her compassion for people and her passion for music and life. She is one of the main reasons that I wanted to become a music teacher. I saw how joyful and fulfilling it made her life, even through the tough times, and I wanted the same thing.
There are not enough words or actions that can express how much she means to me. and the wonderful woman that she is. I love you Mrs. Walters!<3
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Respect runs in the family...
My title pretty much explains it all. We all want to be respected. It is a natural desire to have. Who wouldn't want to have respect from others? No matter what a person says out loud, deep down, everyone wants to have respect from others. What is respect? This is a word that does not have one simple answer. For me, respect is a necessity. It is common sense. It is a way of life actually.
Growing up, the concept of respect was instilled on me by both my parents, but especially my father. My dad is one of my biggest role models. He is wise and talented, kind and funny, and he cooks! (Guys in the future better be prepared because you have big shoes to fill)! I think he always talked about respect, and raised my sisters and I with it, because of his father.
My grandfather recently passed away from Alzheimer's. I never really knew him when he was completely lucid, but the week of his death, I learned more about him and his life than I ever thought I would. The puzzle pieces of my life slowly started to come together and questions that I didn't even know I had were answered. Everything seemed so clear. I will now try to tell the amazing story of my grandpa in just one paragraph.
My grandpa Max, for those who really knew him, got the mumps at age 16 which left him legally blind. Now this is a difficult situation to deal with in the first place, but Max was no normal man. He was a musician. This was his love and passion. But instead of giving up on music because he could not see the notes in front of him, he worked even harder. He eventually graduated from a braille and sight-saving school and then earned degrees at both Drake and Iowa State University. He went on, to not only play music, but teach it as well. Max was one of the most RESPECTED band directors during his career. He won numerous awards and was a role model, mentor and inspiration to all of his students.
My grandpa taught his children to work hard at everything they do and to be good people. Max was a prime example of what respect means. He did not step on or hurt other people to get to the top. He did it with hard work and integrity. That is what he taught my dad, who then taught it to me and my sisters. I am proud to be able to say that I am the daughter of Mark Whitlock and the grand-daughter of Max Whitlock. Two men who I will love and always respect.
Growing up, the concept of respect was instilled on me by both my parents, but especially my father. My dad is one of my biggest role models. He is wise and talented, kind and funny, and he cooks! (Guys in the future better be prepared because you have big shoes to fill)! I think he always talked about respect, and raised my sisters and I with it, because of his father.
My grandfather recently passed away from Alzheimer's. I never really knew him when he was completely lucid, but the week of his death, I learned more about him and his life than I ever thought I would. The puzzle pieces of my life slowly started to come together and questions that I didn't even know I had were answered. Everything seemed so clear. I will now try to tell the amazing story of my grandpa in just one paragraph.
My grandpa Max, for those who really knew him, got the mumps at age 16 which left him legally blind. Now this is a difficult situation to deal with in the first place, but Max was no normal man. He was a musician. This was his love and passion. But instead of giving up on music because he could not see the notes in front of him, he worked even harder. He eventually graduated from a braille and sight-saving school and then earned degrees at both Drake and Iowa State University. He went on, to not only play music, but teach it as well. Max was one of the most RESPECTED band directors during his career. He won numerous awards and was a role model, mentor and inspiration to all of his students.
My grandpa taught his children to work hard at everything they do and to be good people. Max was a prime example of what respect means. He did not step on or hurt other people to get to the top. He did it with hard work and integrity. That is what he taught my dad, who then taught it to me and my sisters. I am proud to be able to say that I am the daughter of Mark Whitlock and the grand-daughter of Max Whitlock. Two men who I will love and always respect.
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