5 answers
Devlyn
Student
Yuma, Arizona
2
Questions
Asked
878 views
A student may want to become a "better" teacher than the ones they've had in the past. They may want to connect with students more, or give their own ideas of lessons, and will use this as their motivation in their path of becoming a teacher. Once they do become a teacher, they may find it difficult to live up to their original ideas of being a "better" teacher. Teachers: do you find that becoming the teacher you originally wanted to be was out of reach, due to things like rules and standards put into place by your administrators?
#teacher #teaching #education #college #student
Login to comment
5 answers
Maggie Velasco
Education Program Lead
1
Answer
Brainerd, Minnesota
Updated
Maggie’s Answer
Devlyn -
If you go into teaching for the right reasons - because you love kids and you want to make a difference for them in this world - you will find a way to bring together the rules and standards that your administration may pose and the vision you have for yourself as an educator. Always ask yourself these questions when you feel the two start to class:
1. Is this what's best for students? How? What would need to change so that it is?
Answering this question before questioning the rules and standards is going to help you focus on what's most important - what's best for kids. If you can't answer all three of those pieces, then it's not the solution or vision of a teacher that is needed in that environment at that time.
2. Am I focused on continuous growth and support for myself, students, and colleagues? How does this align with district values and vision?
Going against the grain or making changes just to make changes is never what's best for students so knowing how your vision of the educator you want to be focuses on continuous learning and improvement - personally and professionally - is important. If you plan to teach learners, you must first be an avid, lifelong learner yourself. If you are consistently out of alignment with the district values and vision then it may not be the place for you to do the best good - find a district that aligns with what your educator values and vision are so you are both successful for the students you serve.
Stay true to you and stay true to your why - why do you want to be an educator? No matter how far you go - classroom, building admin, district, consultant - you should always refer back to your why and it should never change.
Write down your "why" - why do you want to be an educator? Not the what or the how - the why. Focus on that as your driving force to become the educator you want to be. Mine is: because education is a lifelong adventure.
If you go into teaching for the right reasons - because you love kids and you want to make a difference for them in this world - you will find a way to bring together the rules and standards that your administration may pose and the vision you have for yourself as an educator. Always ask yourself these questions when you feel the two start to class:
1. Is this what's best for students? How? What would need to change so that it is?
Answering this question before questioning the rules and standards is going to help you focus on what's most important - what's best for kids. If you can't answer all three of those pieces, then it's not the solution or vision of a teacher that is needed in that environment at that time.
2. Am I focused on continuous growth and support for myself, students, and colleagues? How does this align with district values and vision?
Going against the grain or making changes just to make changes is never what's best for students so knowing how your vision of the educator you want to be focuses on continuous learning and improvement - personally and professionally - is important. If you plan to teach learners, you must first be an avid, lifelong learner yourself. If you are consistently out of alignment with the district values and vision then it may not be the place for you to do the best good - find a district that aligns with what your educator values and vision are so you are both successful for the students you serve.
Stay true to you and stay true to your why - why do you want to be an educator? No matter how far you go - classroom, building admin, district, consultant - you should always refer back to your why and it should never change.
Maggie recommends the following next steps:
Anson Hoi
Sales
8
Answers
Macau
Updated
Anson’s Answer
Hi Devlyn
It is hard to define "better teacher".
It is difficult to become perfect to ALL your students because we are different, so your students are.
Why you want to be a teacher?
You love children? You want to motivate them to learn in their own styles? You hope they can become a better person?
No matter what your original ideas to be a teacher are, there is only one way out- students.
It is hard to define "better teacher".
It is difficult to become perfect to ALL your students because we are different, so your students are.
Why you want to be a teacher?
You love children? You want to motivate them to learn in their own styles? You hope they can become a better person?
No matter what your original ideas to be a teacher are, there is only one way out- students.
Sushma Samudrala
Product Owner
5
Answers
Ashburn, Virginia
Updated
Sushma’s Answer
Evelyn
Not just in teaching world but in many career you will have a chance to either blend in and align yourself to the current situation or expectations from the organization or you will be able to persuade the people around you and be able to sell your idea to make changes to the thought process. I depends from situation to situation and type of organization and people around. I hope you achieve the vision you have for your job
Not just in teaching world but in many career you will have a chance to either blend in and align yourself to the current situation or expectations from the organization or you will be able to persuade the people around you and be able to sell your idea to make changes to the thought process. I depends from situation to situation and type of organization and people around. I hope you achieve the vision you have for your job
Kikanza Nuri-Robins
Consultant
22
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Kikanza’s Answer
I started out as an elementary school teacher and got in trouble because I loved to hear the sounds of learning and I encouraged the children to talk with each other and to move around the room to learning stations. My principal thought my class was too noisy and I was not strict enough. I left k-12 teaching and now teach adults in a corporate environment because I can be more creative and there is much more flexibility for how I teach.
Michele Golden
manager
6
Answers
Plano, Texas
Updated
Michele’s Answer
My husband just recently retired from being a high school band director for 25 years. I visited the school and went on many trips with the students, volunteered, and went to the football games. Through our conversations and my observances over the years, he would often get down or upset at how red tape, standard testing, bureaucracy, etc would get in his way of truly teaching the students. His favorite thing was teaching the kids and had to constantly remind himself to put them above all things. He would write recommendations for the kids and help them if they were struggling above all. He would also build relationships with the administrators so he felt comfortable providing feedback if he felt something was taking away from the main mission: students.
My overarching advise is to prioritize what is meaningful: the students.
Don't let them steal your joy! Remember why you want to be a teacher.
My overarching advise is to prioritize what is meaningful: the students.
Don't let them steal your joy! Remember why you want to be a teacher.