Teach On…

Little known fact about me…  When I grow up, I want to be a teacher.

Ok, it might not be that unknown, especially to those people who known me for a while. Some people think I would make a great teacher, some people (those who have been tutored by me in math) think I would be a horrible teacher. In light of that, here is my list of 5 things that make a great teacher…

1) Patience (nope, not like doctor’s, I mean the long suffering kind)

2) Ability to be understanding and sympathetic (got to connect to those kids, right?)

3) Actually knowing the topic you are teaching (this is so very important because I once had a teacher…nevermind)

4) Organization (this is the one thing I think would make me a horrible teacher)

5) Passion for teaching (not a know-it-all, not a laissez-faire attitude, but passion)

I think that is a decent list.. I know there are many teachers out there who could add, modify or completely correct any grammar mistakes I made (maybe I did them intentionally.. hrmmm??), but that’s my list… go ahead and let me know what you would add to this?

*****

And to end it.. I bring you a great story that I got from my friend over at Mikey’s Funnies

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.

One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, “What’s a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?”

To stress his point he said to another guest; “You’re a teacher, Barbara. Be honest. What do you make?”

Barbara, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, “You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, and then began…)

“Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.

I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor winner.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents CAN’T make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.

You want to know what I make? (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table)

I make kids wonder.

I make them question.

I make them apologize and mean it.

I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.

I teach them to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding ISN’T EVERYTHING.

I make them read, read, read.

I make them show all their work in maths. They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator.

I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know about English while preserving their unique cultural identity.

I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.

Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life (Barbara paused one last time and then continued.)

Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn’t everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant.

You want to know what I make?

I MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

What do you make Mr. CEO?

His jaw dropped, he went silent.

*****

BOOM

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “We Can Be Taught!.”