he or she can never tell
where his or her influence stops. ~
(Henry Brooks Adams)
There is a saying, that every good teacher is a student of students. Understanding young people (as many a parent will testify) is not an easy or straightforward task. Good teachers get to know their students very well indeed – they learn as much as they can about their students - their interests, passions, hobbies, their family, likes and dislikes and what they love to do, how they like to learn and what they like to learn. Good teachers make learning fun.
I read a funny quote the other day by Donald Quinn, who wrote that if a doctor, or lawyer, or dentist had thirty people in their office at one time, all of them asking questions, all of whom had different learning needs, and some of whom, didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, some of whom were questioning the advice given, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he or she might have some conception of the work, the stresses and life of the classroom teacher.
Apart from the humour, this anecdote is quite thought provoking. If we think about this idea a little more, teachers actually teach the people who will become all the other professions we know. Teachers around the world are now teaching, the future prime ministers, the future doctors, lawyers, dentists, politicians, CEOs, the future innovators, artists, musicians, scientists, builders, the future business leaders, architects, writers, researchers and the future humanitarians of the world. Our future and the future of humankind, actually lies in the very hands of our teachers today.
Teachers create the future by their very being a teacher. Most great ideas come from unexpected places and gifted teachers seize and opportunity to create the ‘teachable moment’ whatever the circumstances. Teaching young people to think creatively about problems, helps them later in life to be creative in their thinking, to look at the world differently, and see a solution or idea that has not occurred before that moment. As Albert Einstein, brilliant creative thinker and scientist once wrote:
It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken
joy in creative expression and knowledge.
A gifted teacher inspires all of their students, (not just the clever ones), by tapping into their natural curiosity, by engaging them in conversations around an interesting topic or theme. They make learning come to life in the minds and hearts of their students. A gifted teacher makes learning fun in many creative ways and ignites in his or her students a passion for learning, an interest in the world in which they live, of times gone by, and a thirst for learning that can be sustained their whole life through.
The educational journey, which we share with our students for a relatively short time in their lives, is a journey of discovery – a journey of self discovery, as much as the, ‘getting of wisdom’ and a discovery of the world we live in and our place in that world. No journey is without its twists and turns and ups and downs. Teachers can help students through these difficulties and move them forward to a better place. Gifted teachers show how adversity can become an opportunity. Gifted teachers show students how one’s mind is capable of great feats, complex thinking, wonderful accomplishments, creative problem solving and insightful and inspiring thoughts.
Teachers who inspire realize there will always be rocks in the road ahead of us. They will be stumbling blocks or stepping stones; it all depends on how we use them.
(Author unknown)
In appreciation of International Teacher’s Day celebrated on Friday, 26 October in Australia, students have put together a collage of thank you notes for their teachers. Here is just a small sample of some of the thank you messages from our students to their teachers at CCPS.
“I love all the teachers who teach me and I want to keep them forever! (Skye)
“I love how you always have fun and exciting lessons; you are a great teacher and I love having you teach me.”
“You are the best teacher because every day we have with you is fun.” (Celeste)
“ You are awesome; you teach us awesome stuff and I really, really like the Go Figure.” (Briana)
“”Thank you for helping me in class and for telling me, what’s right and what’s wrong.” (Lauren)
“I love how you teach me about things I didn’t know.”
“You’re the best teacher ever because you’re cheerful every day.” (Ruby)
“Thank you. I enjoy coming to school because you make it fun for me to learn.”
The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called "truth." (Dan Rather, American anchorman CBS News)
Thank you to all the dedicated and caring teachers everywhere - you really do affect eternity!
Karon Graham
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