Blog Post #2
“Perception is a powerful tool. Students will learn more from you than opening a book.” What do you hope your students are learning from you? (Your answer should not contain content-related examples such as, ‘I’m a math teacher so I hope my students are learning math from me.’) What do your students learn by watching you? What did you learn simply by observing some of your own teachers, both the good and the bad?
I hope my students learn from me to have fun in learning. I hope they see that we are life-long learners; we never stop learning. I hope they see the love of reading in me, and how much I wish to pass that love on to them. I hope that they see that even though I may see some of them for only 30 minutes a day, I care about their lives and what is happening in them. Because I work with gifted students, I want them to see in me that it is O.K. to make mistakes, everyone does. I want them to see me work through problems, even with frustration, but I get there in the end. I just recently lost my mother quite suddenly and had to take a leave from school. When I returned, I made a point of sharing with my students why I had been gone. We discussed losses they had had in their lives, also. It was a real comfort to me and I hope it helped them as well. I hope they learn tolerance and kindness from me as well.
ReplyDeleteI hope my students learn that Biology can be difficult, but it can be fun and it is all around us. I hope to teach them to be good people; to treat others with respect and to play a positive role in society. I try to help them to be successful people outside of the walls of CAS. To be a good friend, co-worker, employee, etc... I hope that my students see my passion for learning and teaching. That I care for each one of them and want them to be successful--they need to want it too.
ReplyDelete“Perception is a powerful tool. Students will learn more from you than opening a book.” What do you hope your students are learning from you? (Your answer should not contain content-related examples such as, ‘I’m a math teacher so I hope my students are learning math from me.’) What do your students learn by watching you? What did you learn simply by observing some of your own teachers, both the good and the bad?
ReplyDeleteI hope that my students are learning from me about educational opportunities, not just in the educational setting, but through life experiences themselves. I teach Middle School Social Studies and we are always relating our challenges in school and sports to historic challenges in history. The kids seem to grasp the concepts or connections between the two. I hope they have learned to be honest and sincere in their comments and respect to others. Our students can read us like a book, they know, watch, and react to what kind of perception with present in all situations. Something I will share: I have had the same group of students for five years. When I was teaching Elementary school, I had them in fourth and fifth grade. I moved up to middle school, and have taught them in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade social studies. This group of students know me better than most people. This class and I, are like family. We have grown together. through mistakes, conflicts, losses, and wins. We always laugh about the book we could write.
I had outstanding teachers throughout school, who taught, guided, and made me feel special and demonstrated a sincere concern for me and encouraged me to succeed.
I hope that my students will learn kindness and empathy from me. I see how disconnected the whole world is and being in my classroom with my students should be a place where they can feel safe and feel loved. I have a class full of helpers and I really want to promote kindess towards others. We don't know anyone's circumstances when they are away from school or people we don't know but all humans deserve to be treated with a caring attitude and I try to give my students this everyday.
ReplyDeleteI hope my students learn how to be kind, organization, social skills and that hard work will get you far. I am a huge advocate for "to do lists" , I even have an agenda as a teacher. I cross things out as I complete them. I think my students learn this in Health class, as I teach them how to make a list and cross things off as they know, so they know they got everything done and/or hit every mark that they needed for the assignment. I learned that working hard will take you a long way, compared to not trying at all. When teachers saw me try ( even if I didn't do it perfectly), they helped me succeed in the class.
ReplyDeleteI hope that my students learn patience and grace from me. I work hard on remaining calm when things are stressful. I was talking with another teacher at her table today and we were discussing the new curriculum and how it is difficult to start when there isn't background knowledge from the previous years. I noticed a couple of students at the table watching the discussion and I turned to them and asked, "did you know that your teacher was feeling overwhelmed while teaching this new information?" It was so cool to see them realize that things can be hard for the adults and that we are learning right along side of them.
ReplyDeleteI want my students to love learning. I hope I model the joy of continually learning something new all the time. I want my students to be able to communicate in a healthy way as I model using words to share what I'm feeling or what I need/want. I pray they see how important relationships are in our daily lives. Technology will never meet the relational/physical needs we have as humans. I want them to know its ok to make mistakes and/or fail. I want to show them that even grown ups have to do hard things. This honestly could go on forever!
ReplyDeleteI learn from the teachers around me still today. Good and Bad. As I look back to my own teachers, I vividly remember those that made a positive impact on me and the ones that brought about fear and insecurities.
I hope each of my students learn from me how important each and every single one of them are and how special they are. I want them to feel loved and inspired by me. I hope they learn how important relationships are. Thinking back to when I was in school, I remember how teachers made me feel when they showed they cared not only about my learning and success, but also how I was doing every single day. They checked in, they asked questions, they connected with me. I also remember the teachers that just seemed like they showed up to do their job, teach the material, and go home. No doubt I learned the material, but I didn't form relationships with these teachers and they didn't leave a lasting impact when it comes to thinking about that class or subject.
ReplyDeleteBy watching me, I want my students to see what respect, kindness and perseverance look like in action. I want them to learn how to have emotional regulation by staying calm and not reacting impulsively. I hope they see me listening and trying to understand others' perspectives. I want them to learn how to handle mistakes without being embarrassed or giving up, and how to keep trying even when something feels hard. They should know that with a growth mindset, anything is possible.
ReplyDeleteMy HS math teacher taught me about mistakes being good and growing my brain. I can remember quite a few teachers that never made any connections. They never went to any school events. Students remember the teachers that show up!
There are so many life lessons that I hope my students are learning from me. I hope they are learning the importance of humility, kindness, giving. I hope they understand how important it is to be a good listener and being engaged in a conversation is. In my class I often talk about my own kids and things they have learned being out on their own now. I hope my students learn from these stories. I hope they learn about the importance of being a lifelong learner and reader is. I like to share things from the classes I have taken and the books I have read. I hope they have learned to be more confident as a person and understand the importance of good conversation. We always hope we are making an impact on our students.
ReplyDeleteI hope my students learn kindness, patience, never take yourself to seriously, & to celebrate mistakes. We have this phrase in my classroom "Mistakes are celebrated". Even when I make a mistake with technology etc, students will kindly remind me to celebrate it. I think this helps take the pressure off of having to be 'perfect' all the time. Nobody, anywhere is perfect and we celebrate our differences. This also goes along with acceptance. My own teachers growing up were amazing. I too, remember their names (first & last) and the best memory I have made from each year. I have been incredibly blessed with teachers growing up. Thus, I chose a life paying their dedication forward. I remember these teachers being compassionate about their work, understanding, stern, when they needed to be and loving. They set the example for me and I am hopefully making them proud.
ReplyDelete“Perception is a powerful tool. Students will learn more from you than opening a book.” What do you hope your students are learning from you? (Your answer should not contain content-related examples such as, ‘I’m a math teacher so I hope my students are learning math from me.’) What do your students learn by watching you? What did you learn simply by observing some of your own teachers, both the good and the bad?
ReplyDeleteI hope my students are learning kindness, respectfulness, empathy, joy for exercising, learning comes through failure, and how to be a good sport. From different teachers while I was growing up, I learned which ones really cared about us in and outside of school, which ones had a sense of humor, which ones were always crabby and strict, which ones liked to have fun and also knew how to make learning fun. I saw how each teachers responded to different situations. I like to constantly remind myself that I have lots of little ones watching everything I say and do and I want to be a good example for each of them.
Comments
When my students leave Preschool I want them to know these things:
ReplyDelete1. They can do hard things.
2. Always try your best.
3. Always be kind.
These are things we say together often and I hope they see me practicing them daily. We talk a lot about how my best is different from someone else's best and that everyone deserves to be treated with kindness.
There are many lessons (Martin Luther King Day, Handwriting, zipping coats, learning to share) that can be tied back to these 3 things and if they leave my classroom knowing and remembering them I have succeeded.
“Perception is a powerful tool. Students will learn more from you than opening a book.” What do you hope your students are learning from you? (Your answer should not contain content-related examples such as, ‘I’m a math teacher so I hope my students are learning math from me.’) What do your students learn by watching you? What did you learn simply by observing some of your own teachers, both the good and the bad?
ReplyDeleteI hope students learn from me & watching me:
- they can do hard things by persevering through the difficult times
- it’s okay to make mistakes, get back up and try again.
-making mistakes is apart of the learning process. If you aren’t making mistakes then you aren’t learning.
- Treat others the way you want to be treated.
Teachers that I had in the past, I learned how much they cared about us as their students, but also as an individual. When I was in elementary school and middle school, I had my teachers that showed up to my sporting events, that made the world to me. They took an interest in me outside of school. They cared about me. I try to do that for my students.
As a substitute teacher, we are often required to adapt quickly to different classroom dynamics and student needs. I feel as a substitute teacher, I bring a fresh perspective which can enhance their learning for the day. I hope students recognize the value and contributions I make coming into the classroom. Things I hope the students learn from me:
ReplyDelete1. Reliability
2. Enthusiasm
3. Patience
4. Adaptability
5. Kindness
Observing other teachers can lead to continues improvement. These insights can help teachers develop their own teaching methods, approaches, and self-evaluation practices, ultimately leading to better student outcomes.
I hope my students are learning that each one of them brings a unique value to the world. I also hope that they learn confidence in themselves. So many students come into math with the misconception that they "are not good at math". My goal by the end of the year is that they believe in themselves and their abilities. I often remind them that math doesn't have to be their favorite subject, but that they can complete their work with confidence. Thinking back to my own teachers, I definitely learned what I didn't want to be like as a teacher. Short tempered, impatient, expectations of mastery with only a short lesson, and the list goes on. I also learned that those who truly cared about me and my classmates were the ones that made the biggest impact.
ReplyDeleteI hope that my students learn that learning can be engaging and that education is not about completing tasks. While I give individual work time and assignments, the real goal of these is to engage in discussion, debate and to have interactions and form connections from the process of learning. I hope that when they watch me they learn to treat everyone with respect. I hope to model kindness and professionalism by reacting appropriately to disruptions or the occasional inappropriate behavior. I hope that students learn that problems can be dealt with without getting angry or screaming and yelling. I think from watching my own teachers is that the best ones were interacting with students. There is a time and place for seat work classroom assignments, but the real value in these is the interactions between students with each other and the teacher with the students and the discussions which come out of them. A good teacher is interacting with students, discussing the learning with them, giving direction and giving feedback in the moment. A bad teacher hands out an assignment and camps out behind their desk, leaving students to view education as a set of tasks to be completed rather than a process of learning and creating good citizens.
ReplyDeleteChahrozian’s talk ultimately suggests that teaching is relational before it is instructional. On the first day of each school year, I welcome the freshman students by sharing the picture book: “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle. The initial student response is usually stunned silence, snickering or disbelief that I am sharing a preschool book with them until I explain that the picture book is really the story of its author Eric Carle. Eric Carle was born in Syracuse, NY on June 25, 1929 to German immigrant parents. He fondly remembers attending Kindergarten in Syracuse and falling in love with bright colors and the natural world, particularly animals. He spent many a childhood hour traipsing through the woods of Syracuse observing nature with his patient father. In 1935, when Eric was 6 years old, his homesick parents moved him back to their hometown of Stuttgart, Germany. It was a terrible time to move back to Germany with the rise of Hitler and the start of WWII. Eric Carle’s teenage years were clouded with fear and uncertainty. It was a time of hiding and sheltering for teenage Eric Carle. (This is paired with the cocoon picture). You see, Stuttgart, Germany was the site of intense bombing raids and was targeted for destruction by the Allied forces because it was an industrial center known for automobile production. Eric spent many a night with his family hunkered down in basement shelters worried for his father who had been conscripted by the Germans and taken prisoner of war by the Russians. Violence and death were everywhere. Eric remembers one time wading in the Rhine River and being shot at by warplanes. And at 15 years old, despite being an American, the German army forced Eric to participate in digging trenches along the Siegfried Line where he witnessed the shooting deaths of several people at the hands of the Nazis. Despite the darkness, Eric continued his love of art and was fortunate to find a high school art teacher, Herr Krauss, who dared to defy the Nazis, and share the works of Nazi banned artists Picasso, Matisse and Braque with him. These artists fired the imagination of Eric Carle, infused him with a sense of beauty and light during a dark time and heavily influenced his future illustrative style. Following the end of the war, Eric being an American citizen found work as a file clerk for the US Army. He remembers swiping “peanut-butter sandwiches, lumps of butter, cubes of sugar and leftover bits of steak” to eat and share with his family, all of whom were hungry following years of war. He often gorged so much stolen food that he made himself sick. (Just like a little caterpillar that got sick from eating too much). Despite his wartorn, traumatic childhood and teenage years, Eric Carle survived and flourished. He returned to the US in 1952 determined to become an artist. With $40 to his name, he made his way to NYC and the publishing world. The VHC was written and published in 1969. I shared this book with freshmen students and the author’s story behind it in order to demonstrate that there is more to every story and by extension to every person than first meets the eye. The VHC isn’t just about a caterpillar, it is a story about survival and the ability to thrive and grow even under the harshest of circumstances. I tell students to always remember to be kind because you never know what someone might be going through. Then I share some information about who I am and booktalk some books I love and tell them that I can’t wait to get to know all of their stories. Because everyone has an important story to tell. This is how I start every year and how I want students to remember me, as someone who cares about them as a whole person. I see them as people first and library patrons second. For more information about Eric Carle’s story, visit: https://www.newsweek.com/books-eric-carles-very-hungry-caterpillar-76541
ReplyDeleteWow! Didn't know this and am so happy you shared it! So many layers to humanity.
DeleteAs an ECSE teacher, I hope my students are learning how to be kind, patient, resilient, and curious just by watching me. I want them to see how I handle challenges, regulate my emotions, and treat others with respect and empathy. My goal is for them to learn social skills, self-confidence, and how to navigate relationships by observing my interactions with them, their peers, and their families.
ReplyDeleteFrom watching other teachers, I learned that the good ones modeled patience, enthusiasm, and genuine care, which made me feel safe and inspired to learn. The bad examples showed me the impact of frustration, negativity, or lack of attention to students’ needs—it taught me what not to do and how important it is to lead by example.
In essence, my students learn that relationships, empathy, and persistence are just as important as any lesson I teach.
As an elementary teacher, I hope they are learning how to be kind humans and how to be the best version of themselves they can be. The last two years, I have learned how negative students can be. Not only towards others, but to themselves as well. I started working through a Growth Mindset book with my class as I noticed they constantly were doubting themselves and saying things like "This is too hard. I can't do this. I'm stupid. I'm going to fail., etc." Hearing these phrases from students so often made me realize there was a deeper issue I needed to look at before they were able to be successful learners. Going through the growth mindset book with that group of students made me realize how important it was to teach that skill to children. Instead of saying "I can't do this" we can say "I can't do this YET but I will try my best!" After a few months of working through growth mindset examples and activities with my class, I noticed a change in them both in and out of the classroom. They weren't only more confident themselves, but they were lifting up others as well! So, if there is anything my students can learn from me it would be that mistakes are OK and we are always learning. By watching me, I hope that students can learn how to be empathetic and patient towards others. Not everyone learns the same way or does things the same way and that's okay. If I instantly get frustrated, students are going to do the same. Growing up I learned the "fear" of getting something wrong. Like I had to be perfect otherwise I wasn't good enough. As an adult, I truly do struggle with being "wrong", or even thinking that I could possibly have a chance of being wrong, which makes it hard to put yourself out there. Since working through the growth mindset book as an adult, I realize that it truly is okay and that you learn by making those mistakes. That is why I focus on that skill in my classroom. I want students to feel safe and be allowed to make mistakes without the fear of failure. My 9th grade math teacher truly showed me that there isn't one way to do things and showed me kindness as well as pushed me to be the best I can be both in and out of class.
ReplyDeleteBy watching me every day, I hope my students learn the importance of good manners, kindness, and respect for others. I want them to see what it looks like to treat people with respect. I hope they learn that being a good friend matters, and that what we say to each other makes a difference. I try to teach these lessons through the discussions that we have, and the way I treat each of them.
ReplyDeleteI also hope my students learn that mistakes are a part of learning. School is a place to grow, and no one is expected to be perfect. I try to point out when I make a mistake, just to help remind them that mistakes happen to everyone. I want my students to understand that trying your best truly matters. I encourage my students to always try first, but if they are struggling with something, I will be there to encourage and support them.
As a student myself, I learned lessons by observing my own teachers. From the very best teachers, I learned the value of believing in someone, the power of making connections, and kindness. From the less effective teachers, I learned how damaging your words can be. When you say something damaging it will stick with that student for their whole life. Everyone needs to think before they speak.
I hope my students leave my classroom knowing how to be kind, how to try their best, how to learn from mistakes, and how to treat others well. I also hope they will remember the laughter and fun we had together.
“Perception is a powerful tool. Students will learn more from you than opening a book.” What do you hope your students are learning from you? (Your answer should not contain content-related examples such as, ‘I’m a math teacher so I hope my students are learning math from me.’) What do your students learn by watching you? What did you learn simply by observing some of your own teachers, both the good and the bad?
ReplyDeleteI hope my students are learning what hard work and preparation looks like. I hope I am modeling what it looks like to always be prepared. I also hope I am modeling what it looks like to "roll with the punches." I want to show preparedness without rigidity. I hope I am teaching kindness. I hope I am teaching gratitude and passion. I am also hopeful that my students see an example in front of them as someone who lives clean and someone worthy of modeling their lives after.
From my teachers I learned hard work. I learned to lead. I learned that I need to speak truthfully and confidently about my topic. I also learned NOT to be judgmental in the way one of my teachers handled a student that disagreed with hiss stance on some issues. I also learned that its okay to be inquisitive and admit that I don't have all the answers. I had great role models. I hope I am doing the same for my students.
I hope my students learn how important it is to be kind and to do the right thing, even when it’s not easy. I want them to know that it’s okay to make mistakes and even to fail—because that means they are trying, growing, and learning. I hope they learn to be respectful to everyone and to show kindness and patience to others. To dream big, be confident in who they are, and never feel like they have to change to fit in. More than anything, I hope they learn to believe in themselves and to never give up and enjoy the life their given.
ReplyDeleteI've learned a lot from my own teachers. Kindness and respect were some of the most important. I've learned to work hard and push myself to grow. Those lessons have stayed with me far beyond the classroom and continue to shape who I am today.
“Perception is a powerful tool. Students will learn more from you than opening a book.” What do you hope your students are learning from you? (Your answer should not contain content-related examples such as, ‘I’m a math teacher so I hope my students are learning math from me.’) What do your students learn by watching you? What did you learn simply by observing some of your own teachers, both the good and the bad?
ReplyDeleteI really hope my students learn from me good sportsmanship. I think this is a life skill that can be used in everyday life. We may not always get the grade we want, we may not win every game, and we may not get the job we want. How we respond is what will define us. I hope that I teach my students how to lose with grace and respect. How to treat their teammates with respect as well as their opponents. Again, these are skills that can be translated into the workforce.
Hopefully my students learn how to be respectful to everyone by watching me. I try to jump in and play games with my students and if I get out or my team loses, I demonstrate how to lose by saying good game to the other team and giving them a high-five or fist bump.
From my teachers, I would say that I learned how to work hard. School did not come easy for me, and I really had to work at it (especially math). My teachers always said, "give your best effort and you will not fail". Boy, did I work hard! Now I'm not saying I got A's in every class, but I did not fail! I think that work ethic has stuck with me even today. I give my best effort in everything I do.
I want kids to know how much I care about them and their success. I also want kids to feel comfortable about coming to see me when they need help with any issue that they are dealing with. I show a lot of enthusiasm in my job and I think kids know how much I enjoy being with them and watching them grow.
ReplyDeletePerception is a powerful tool - Working with tools through teaching is what I do all day. I like how this resonates with me. I use those tools to teach life skills, safety in using them and hopefully safety in life, confidence to know that I am trusting my students and that they can trust me. Demonstrating skills and steps of woodworking and building and construction and then letting my students demonstrate their knowledge and learning to me.
ReplyDelete“Perception is a powerful tool. Students will learn more from you than opening a book.” What do you hope your students are learning from you? (Your answer should not contain content-related examples such as, ‘I’m a math teacher so I hope my students are learning math from me.’) What do your students learn by watching you? What did you learn simply by observing some of your own teachers, both the good and the bad?
ReplyDeleteI hope that my students learn many things from me that goes far beyond the classroom. I want them to have confidence in themselves and know that they are capable, even when things get hard. Along with confidence, comes resilience and growth. I want them to know that mistakes aren’t failure, it's part of learning. I model all the time that struggle is normal and own up to my mistakes when they happen. I also want them to have respect and empathy. I hope I have taught them how to listen, work with others, and understand different perspectives because they are lifelong skills. Another thing I hope they learn from me is responsibility, which means taking ownership of their work, their choices, and their impact on others. And the last thing I hope they learn from watching me is the feeling of being seen and valued. Sometimes what students remember most isn’t the lesson, it’s that you cared about them and believed in them.
As I grew up and watched my teachers, the one thing that I learned the most was that my voice is valued and my opinions matter. I was always the quiet and shy one in class who hardly ever participated, but as conferences happened and my teachers talked with me about it, I was encouraged to speak up and say what I wanted or felt and do what I wanted as I brought a lot to the table.
I hope my students are learning that it's okay to not have it all figured out on the first try. In the classroom, they’re watching how I handle it when a plan falls apart or when I hit a wall with a difficult problem. Instead of getting frustrated, I try to show them that a wrong result is just a sign to pivot and try a different approach. By seeing me stay calm and treat mistakes as just another part of the process, they learn that struggle isn't a sign of failure, it's just a part of getting to the right answer.
ReplyDeleteGood reply!
DeleteI hope to build positive character traits, through modeling my behavior for my students. Working hard, treating others with respect, are demonstrating integrity are all traits that I hope for each of my students to have. Growing up, I think I learned subconsciously how my teachers reacted to certain situations. I believe that my students and athletes are always watching me and how I am going to handle any adversity that comes my way, no matter how small. My favorite teacher growing up was always able to maintain a positive attitude and had a sense of humor when things didn’t go as planned.
ReplyDeleteI hope my kindergarten class learns to love school. I hope they discover that learning can be joyful while also understanding the importance of trying their best and working hard. My goal is for each child to leave my classroom feeling confident, curious, and proud of their efforts.
ReplyDeleteMy wish is that my students are watching me and I am modeling kindness, professionalism, hard work, and love. I like to treat my students like my own kids and foster a caring environment and have noticed that is the way they begin to treat each other. I like to be on time and focused and prepared. They learn from our classroom family that this is the way you conduct yourselves and that structure makes things easier. My students are important to me and they feel that each day!
ReplyDeleteMy wish is that my students would learn that they matter. That they are worth my time and attention. I hope they learn that learning can be fun. I hope they learn that discipline matters and that they can do hard things. I want them to learn to love that if they really, really love something (sports, music, hobbies, etc.), they can do that for the rest of their lives and find joy in sharing it with others.
ReplyDeleteI love to be happy, positive and make others feel the same. Taking personality tests, it had seemed to suggest that I love to please people and was considered to be an includer as well. By watching me or being in my classroom, I hope the students will learn or feel how I make them, or others feel when they are around me. I try to be positive and upbeat. I can remember as a young girl hating to go to school because it was hard and I never felt like I was a part of the "popular group" and I just didn't like the feeling of being dumb or not included. I think that is the driving factor of how I became who I am today. As I grew older and moved through my schooling, I think I developed these mental goals of what I could control as I graduated from high school and went on to college. (I will say that along the way, I had some pretty awesome teachers too that also had qualities that I knew I wanted to emulate.) Attending college, I made my mind up that life would be different than it was in later elementary grades, middle school and high school. I decided that I would be confident, happy, including, warm, positive, and peaceful. I wanted to be a person that others would want to be around. As I went on to become a teacher these qualities played a factor as well. I thought back to my experience with teachers and would try to mirror what qualities I appreciated from a student's perspective for my students. Hopefully I have and will continue to do.
ReplyDeleteI hope my students learn how to be accepting, how to fail, how to succeed, how to have compassion, how to stand up for themselves, how to care, how to push through difficult tasks, and how to be happy. I hope that they see that it’s ok to be wrong and how to correct it. I hope they learn that being a kind person takes you farther than being unkind. I hope that all my students feel that I care about them and want them all to succeed no matter their ability level, their socioeconomic status and that all are worthy of success and treat others as such. This is important because I do remember my teachers treating some differently than others. I hope that they learn that it’s ok to be human and have feelings. Some days you feel great and some days you just don’t have it. I feel like I had great teachers overall, they showed up when you needed them to and always had the time to help. The teachers I remember most always made me feel like I was capable.
ReplyDeleteI also hope they also learn how to have fun!
DeleteI hope my students learn that they matter, valued, and capable, even when they don't hear it from enough people. I want them to treat others with kindness, and how to handle frustration without giving up.
ReplyDeleteBy watching me, I hope my students learn that it is okay to make mistakes and that growth does not come from perfection. When I listen, I'm showing them that people deserve to be heard. I remember from my own teachers, a lot of them showed me encouragement and what it looks like to genuinely care about others.
I want to be the kind of teacher they remember when leaving my classroom that not just what they learned but how they were treated and how they felt because that is what stays with people the longest.
I hope that my students learn that they are valued and loved, and that school is a safe place for everyone, no matter what. I hope that I am cultivating a positive work environment where they learn that it is okay to fail and that there are adults in their lives that are rooting for them. Looking back at my schooling, I can remember which teachers I loved and connected with and remember which teachers I didn't. My 5th grade teacher in particular was always grumpy and never seemed happy in the classroom. Sometimes when I'm having my own bad day, I think about her and remind myself to turn it around and have a positive attitude for my students. My hard day/attitude shouldn't change how their day goes.
ReplyDeleteI try more than anything to get my students to realize and believe in the power of YET! I try to model and do activities in my room to get students to realize that sometimes things may seem easy, but they can prove to be difficult. Throughout all of these activities, we try to focus on persevering and staying positive. We talk long and hard how I like "failure"...as long as that's not their final destination. Life is going to throw us difficult tasks, it's ok to take awhile to get through it, just stay to the task on hand and watch how you handle life so you don't make it more difficult for others. Throughout everything, we try to also focus on being kind as we never know what our peers or even all around us are going through, so how we handle situations impacts others.
ReplyDeleteMy teachers helped to teach me that connect to the kids matters. Content is important, but not more important than the individual. I try to make those connections and understand a bit more about what each kid may be bringing with them to school each day.
What I hope my students learn from me is how to show up in life with responsibility, consistency, and care. I want them to see someone who is a community leader, who leads by example, who demonstrates that working hard and doing the right thing more times than not matters, who follows through on commitments, who is dependable, and who treats people with respect even in difficult moments. More than anything, I want them to experience what it looks like to lead through service, putting others first, showing empathy, and building people up rather than tearing them down.
ReplyDeleteI also hope they learn that being a good person matters just as much as any skill or knowledge they will ever gain. Through daily interactions, I try to model that relationships are built through trust, honesty, and effort over time. Some of my biggest role models growing up were teachers who exhibited these behaviors, and I found myself striving to be more like them. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize those individuals were not only great educators but also strong leaders within our community, and that is still where I find myself striving to land in my own life and career. Ultimately, I want my students to remember me not just for what happened in class or practice, but for how I made them feel and how I showed up for them consistently.
Perception....Thinking about this and about how you are setting an example for the current generation—is both scary and important. I believe my students learn from watching me demonstrate grace, love, joy, care, accountability, and acceptance in every situation. I also believe my students feel the warm and supportive environment I work to build in my classroom.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up, I had some teachers who broke me down. School was hard for me. But I also had teachers who cared and helped me grow. I found a teacher who wanted me to succeed and showed me how. He gave me confidence and showed me love when I had none for myself.
Perception matters, but relationships and connection are the true keys to success for both ourselves and the young minds we have the privilege of supporting every day.
I hope students learn that relationships are the foundation of everything. Long after they forget how to do the math problems or the dates in history, they will remember the person who made them feel capable. In the classroom, our character speaks louder than our curriculum. We aren't just teaching our students; we are showing our students what it looks like to be a person. It is important to form bonds with them. I get to form some deep bonds with my students as I have them for four years in a row and get to know them and their families very well.
ReplyDeleteKelsey Berletic
ReplyDeleteI hope my students learn from me how to show up, even on hard days. There are times when I may be struggling personally, but I make a conscious effort not to bring that into the classroom or take it out on my students. I’ve learned the importance of separating my personal life from my professional role, and I hope students see that it’s possible to handle challenges while still treating others with patience and respect.
I also hope they learn the power of attitude. Even when I don’t love something—like state testing—I try not to speak negatively about it. I’ve realized that my attitude can easily influence the way students feel, and if I approach something with negativity, they are likely to do the same. Instead, I try to model a mindset of making the best of situations, even when they’re not ideal.
By watching me, I hope students learn how to stay positive, remain professional, and treat others kindly regardless of what’s going on behind the scenes. These are skills that go far beyond the classroom.
Looking back on my own experience as a student, I realize how much I learned simply by observing my teachers. The ones who were patient, consistent, and respectful left a lasting impression on me, while those who were easily frustrated or negative also shaped my understanding of what I didn’t want to become. Those experiences have influenced the kind of educator I strive to be today.
Ultimately, I hope my students walk away with more than just academic knowledge—I hope they learn how to carry themselves, how to treat others, and how to handle life’s challenges with a positive and respectful attitude.
My hope it that students will leave me with the knowledge that they matter and can do anything as long as they learn and grow through their mistakes. I want my students to always leave my room feeling positive and see that I love what I do. Students know when you love what you are teaching and they feed off have your likes and dislikes. I hope that they see me struggle with things and see how I keep trying and except that I am not perfect, so they don’t need to be. I have learned that some teachers when they mess up blame others and think they are perfect. I never felt comfortable in their classroom because I was scared to question and make a mistake. I had an amazing teacher in high school who when he was unsure of something told us and we would find the answers together. I felt free to stumble and learn in his class. He taught my least favorite subject in school, government, but it ended up being my favorite class because of him.
ReplyDeleteThose are all great things that you are modeling for your students! I think it is so important for all of our students to know that they matter and that they don't need to be perfect. Isn't that so cool how the teacher of your least favorite subject was able to make that your favorite class? It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes: "They don't care what you know until they know that you care." First and foremost, I think our students just want to know that we care about them and value them, and then we can teach them almost anything!
DeleteI have the ability to work with students one-on-one and it is an amazing experience as each student that I work with gets my full attention for the entire time. I so enjoy this aspect of visiting and getting to know new students and to catch up with students that I have worked with in the past. The only bad part for the student is that he/she is constantly on the spot to answer each question that I ask. I only see each student every three years (as that is how often standardized testing takes place). I try to set each student up for success as I introduce the test and let them know that there will easy and hard questions and tasks and that they will know some answers and may not know others, but that I need them to try each question before saying, "I don't know." I am very reassuring and relaxed and I think that students see that and are able to relax and will attempt most, and usually all items, that are presented. When I was in school, the teachers i enjoyed most were the teachers that taught the content, enjoyed the content, and had fun with the content that they taught.
ReplyDeleteI want my students to learn how to respond to things that are upsetting. People first care. When the same Kindergartner dumps his chocolate milk out at lunch I want to respond calmly. (This was happening last semester.) I want to nearly ignore the food soaked in milk on his tray, besides cleaning it up while talking to the child. Ignore the undesirable behavior and try to connect to the child. All the other kids are watching my reaction. Several adults sternly talked to this kid. I learned he kept dumping his milk. (Granted-It was really annoying.) I hope the students learn to not take things to seriously from me. That these inconveniences can be navigated with peace. That dysregulated children can bring me to feel compassion, but not to lose my cool. I do not have to match my students when they are amping up.
ReplyDelete“Perception is a powerful tool. Students will learn more from you than opening a book.” What do you hope your students are learning from you? (Your answer should not contain content-related examples such as, ‘I’m a math teacher so I hope my students are learning math from me.’) What do your students learn by watching you? What did you learn simply by observing some of your own teachers, both the good and the bad?
ReplyDeletePerception is a powerful tool. As educators we need to remember this as our actions and behaviors have an impact on our students. Therefore, our students are learning more from us than the content that we teach. By watching me, I hope my students learn the importance of being kind, respectful, accountable, and welcoming. By modeling these behaviors and actions, I hope that my students learn to do the same. For example, in the morning, I welcome my students with a smile and acknowledge them by name. I hope that I am teaching them the importance of such interaction by they was they feel when they see me in the morning each day. By being prepared for class, I hope to be teaching my students accountability and responsibility. By comparing my preparation and their preparation, they are provided an opportunity to see the impact of being prepared or not being prepared. I also hope they learn the importance of fun. School does not need to be all work...it is possible to have and still learn. By adding a little humor my students will learn that it is possible to learn what is important yet at the same time have fun doing so.
One of the teachers that I had in middle school taught me the importance of being organized. In addition to the content that he taught, he made it a requirement to turn in organized, clean notes. Not only did my note meet the requirement, but I felt accomplished by the work I completed. It made me want to be organized in all areas of my life. I also learned the importance of respecting others from a teacher I had in my past. I remember a teacher calling me out in a disrespectful way. I was embarrassed by the way she handled the situation, especially since I was a pretty introverted students. Due to this experience, I learned the importance of respecting others, especially the student I work with every day.
We need to remember that perception is powerful and students are learning more than content from us - both good and bad.
Krista, I agree with you on all of your comments! Adding humor is not only important, but fun for us too. With all of the slang in middle school these days, it is so fun to throw it right back at them. They love that! I had a really tough 6th grader this year, and he started saying little comments and I "roasted" him right back. He laughed and was like, "Ok Mrs. Hurd, you're chill". I figured I had a win! The rest of the year, we had an amazing relationship - just by one humorous interaction.
DeleteI want my students to learn that no matter what life throws at you, you have the ability to overcome it. I want them to know that I will always be in their corner, no matter their behavior. I will be their biggest cheerleader! I want them to learn that hard work pays off and every one makes mistakes!
ReplyDeleteI immediately thought about all of the teachers that have had an impact on me - both K`-12 and Post-Secondary. My college professors were absolutely amazing, and I have molded my own teaching using a few strategies from each one of them. Because I knew what encouraged me and what didn't. I learned what worked...and what didn't. Both were extremely helpful in how I began my career and how I have adjusted my own strategies. First and foremost, I start with relationship building, respect and trust. I have learned to go in with strong expectations, but doing it with understanding and respect. First impressions every year are so important! Those students are watching every move we make and they will take mental notes of it. The first few years were terrifying, but now it is more comfortable. I try to show patience, positivity and treat them the way I would want to be treated as a student.
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa, thanks for sharing! It seems like you had a great support system going into teaching!
DeleteIt's my hope that my students develop a love for learning. I have shared many stories with them about how my love for history has only grown stronger and I'm always seeking to learn more. I share with them the books I'm currently reading and the research I've done on certain topics to hopefully interest them in digger deeper into whatever subject matter we're covering. I also try to help students see the connection between hard work and success, the importance of empathy and compassion, and the value of teamwork. The best teachers I've had were great at making connections and encouraging students to care about their work and care about each other. I try to model that the best that I can.
ReplyDeleteI hope that my students are learning that school can be fun. I make sure that my attitude and love for learning is perceived through our lessons and actions throughout the day. I also bring many opportunities that are not specifically in our standards. I like to bring in various reptiles, science projects, and chicken eggs. Even though they are not specific 2nd grade standards…we, as a whole class, learn so much from those ‘extra projects’.
ReplyDeleteI also hope that my student know and understand that I am there for them! I don’t ever want to come across as my teaching being a job. For it is my calling. It is what I know I was born to do. I hope that they know that I come with a heart full of passion to help them succeed and that each day brings just as much joy as the last.
I hope none of my teachers ever feel left out, not wanted, or ignored by me.
In the TedTalk by Gregory Chahrozian, he mentioned, “Your teacher is your second parent.” I hope that my students feel loved and cared about. I hope that they know that I am here for them. I hope that they leave at the end of the school with their heads held high and know that they made me proud.
I hope that my students are learning from me that they can be anything that they want to be in life. I always encourage my students to look outside the box and do what they love/want to do, not what others tell them that they should do. I had one student call me two years after he graduated high school and had attended a technical college, he called to tell me that he was graduating from one program and because of me and my encouragement that he could be anything, he decided to go for another year to add a certificate to his degree in electrical work. I was so excited for him and so honored that he called to tell me that I had made that difference in his life.
ReplyDeleteI think my students learn "it is what it is" by watching me. I was not afraid to tell my students when I had things going on in my life that may affect my mood that day and how I taught. I was open with my students about my daughter who has spina bifida and I had to leave school 3 months early to have a fetal surgery to help her live a better life. I hope my students learned that even though God puts things in our path that we don't like, we are strong enough to make that path our story.
I learned that family is important from my teachers. My teachers treated each of us with love and respect and they made sure that if we were struggling with something, they showed us grace and helped us get through it.
About 5 years into my 19 years of teaching, my students started calling me Momma G and it has stuck. I got a license plate with that on it. I have parents that call me that because that is how their students referred to me. Many students when I taught would come to me for advice, hugs, snacks, or just to vent. This is one of the things I miss about teaching. I have several notes from former students tell me, "thank you for being our school mom".
Whenever my students enter the classroom I always ask them how there day is going and on a Monday, I ask how their weekend went and if they did anything fun. This shows that I care about them. I hope my students learn that they need to be caring, and kind to people. This means watch what they say to people, and be thoughtful of everyone. Everyone is different and lives a different lifestyle so we do not need to make fun of people just because they are different. I also want my students to learn to have respect. This includes being respectful of everyone's property and if you borrow it, give it back and treat it better than you would treat your own. If you need to borrow something, ask, don't just take. When students think of me, I want them to learn that they need to be helpful to people. If someone needs help with something, they need to ask if they can help. Also, I hope that from watching me my students know that if they are struggling with anything, that I am there to help them. This doesn't just mean on homework, but in life. I am always there to lend an ear and give them life advise. Lastly, I want my student to know that if they work hard in life, they can do or be anything that they want to be.
ReplyDeleteI have many students that have given me "Thank yous" for being there for them, listening to them and helping them when they need it. There have many times when students feel that I am "like a mom to them". Sometimes they ask if I will be there mom and I reply "sure" what is one more child ! I love my students as I do my own child.
I want my students to see that learning can be both fun and serious, and that it is valuable to be both organized and flexible. But above all, I hope they learn to be kind and supportive of those around them. By watching me, I hope my students learn to be unapologetically themselves—seeing that it is okay to be silly, to dance, and to embrace joy in life. My own growth has been heavily shaped by observing other teachers. They have taught me that making mistakes is simply part of the process, as long as we learn from them and move forward. From them, I've learned to build genuine connections, to love those around me, and to practice patience—always remembering that we never truly know what someone else is going through.
ReplyDeleteI truly hope that my students learn from me is that it’s ok to make mistakes and learn from them. I also try and tell my students that no one is perfect and if you make a mistake that you learn a lot more from that then me just telling them the answer.
ReplyDeleteI also hope my students learn patience’s while watching me.
I still remember to this day my 3-5th grade teacher (country school) and her passion for teaching science and the excitement that she would have when you discovered something and told/asked her about it.
I hope my students learn from me that we can all make mistakes. I really stress how we all make mistakes, and always point out that I make mistakes as well! I can be serious in my classroom, but also like to make jokes and have fun. Being in a small town, I know the students fairly well, but still take time to learn more about them. I hope they know that I care about them and hope they know they are always in a safe space to share, learn, and grow.
ReplyDeleteMy students are constantly reminding me of the mistakes I make. Sometimes I tell them I do them on purpose to teach them a lesson (not true). That also adds humor to it and shows that mistakes aren't a bad thing.
DeleteI had a teacher in HS that showed me that she cared. I don't remember much about Shakespeare other than how difficult it was to understand. I do remember how she listened when I felt I was having relationship struggles. It meant so much to me to have this adult in my corner willing to listen to me. Looking back those problems were silly, but at the time not so much. I have always wanted to be that teacher. I want the kids to feel like they can come to me with any problem or celebration. I have had former students come back to tell me that I made them feel connected. Admin may want high test scores, but connecting with the kids is just as if not more important. I want them to learn kindness, tolerance, patience, and laughter.
ReplyDeleteJust recently, I was able to reconnect with my 6th grade teacher. He somehow was always able to "see" me without judgement and knowing what I loved. He had a reading corner with a claw footed bathtub in it full of pillows, and when you were done with your work, you could go read there. I LOVED reading anything and everything, so I was always there. He knew somehow that I was not lifted up at home, and he always made an effort to make me feel important. As a teacher now myself, I know how important this is, and I try to get to know my students as soon as possible. I listen to them as they tell me things, and as they are talking to their peers. If I know they are in an activity, I always make sure to ask them about it. They really seem to enjoy hearing about my life as well. One way that my students see me "light-up" is when they do something so well in a lesson like writing, poetry, or anything, I get goose-bumps! Literally, I am so excited for them and so impressed, that this happens. I tell them about it, and before you know it, they are looking for and asking if I got goosebumps :). Not only do I light up, but they do when they see how proud of them I am. I still have students in higher grades coming in to visit during my planning period or before school, and they know they can tell me anything, and I will understand. I teach Middle School, so the lid-flips can sometimes be intense. I was really tested this year and became dysregulated myself - however, I did learn from it and have been working on how to calm down major situations without being triggered or taking it personally. Each day is a new day!
ReplyDeleteWhat do you hope your students are learning from you? What do your students learn by watching you? What did you learn simply by observing some of your own teachers, both the good and the bad?
ReplyDeleteI hope that my students are learning responsibility from me. I want them to learn how to be functional citizens of society. How to take control of their own learning and take responsibility for their accomplishments and their mistakes. I also want them to learn to be creative, use ingenuity, and be confident by observing me. I want them to know that they are loved and that they can do hard things and think critically.
I've had some really great teachers, but a couple stand out. Mrs. Hartwig was my 8th grade English teacher that was really important to me during a hard season of my life. She helped me gain confidence and let me know that I was worthy of being treated with kindness. She listened and empathized and was fun and bubbly, too. I also had a professor in college, Dr. Olson, that I aspire to be like. He had a great sense of humor and he saw my ability and used it to push me to do more. He also taught me humility, tolerance, kindness, and demonstrated fairness. He was not only a professor, but a mentor, and a friend.
I have also had some bad teachers that I try not to be like. I try not to assume things or pass judgement on kids or their home lives. I try to keep and open mind and not be closed off when they are seeking something from me. I also try not to write students off, and keep pushing them to do their best at whatever that ability is.
I could really relate to your story about Mrs. Hartwig helping you gain confidence. One of the teachers who had the biggest impact on me helped build my confidence and worth too. He took the time to get to know me and understand what I needed, and that made a huge difference. Looking back, it reminds me how important it is for students to feel seen and valued. I think building these kinds of relationships with students also helps them take responsibility for their actions, learn from their mistakes, and grow because they know they will have support.
DeleteI hope that my students are learning from me how to have a love and zest for life and learning, how to be empathetic towards others, and how to learn from mistakes. I have always been someone who loves life and people and appreciates the small things. I get excited about things that most people don't even notice. One of my former students is now a teacher in my district, and she gave me a shout-out at a PD about how much I had impacted her through my passionate energy and excitement for life; she said that I had completely changed her life. Before that, I didn't even realize how much my personality was impacting my students. Furthermore, I try to teach and model the importance of empathy for others daily in my classroom.
ReplyDeleteI learned so much from my teachers, both about the kind of person that I want to be (mostly) and sometimes about the kind of person I don't want to be. The teachers that stand out to me in a positive way showed me the same things that I think I currently model for my students: kindness, positive energy, and a love of learning. I also remember the teachers who were relaxed and able to have fun, and those that made me feel like they cared about me as a person and not just as a student in their classroom. The ones I observed that taught me how I don't want to be were ones who were generally unhappy and didn't seem to enjoy their job, those who were so serious about their subject that they couldn't connect with students, and those who showed favoritism in their classroom.
The first thing that comes to mind is I want my students to learn how to be a good person. Every single day I try to be a great role model and show how to handle certain situations. I also hope my students learn and understand that all this school stuff can be fun. That's a perception I want to change that school is boring or learning is not cool, especially with older students. I love joking around and playing games and hope that comes across to my students. My favorite teachers were always the ones who laughed all the time and made us get our noses out of the textbook or worksheet. I think that shows more passion for learning and teaching than anything else. Those are also the most memorable teachers because they meant something to me. I hated the teachers that spoke directly out of the book or powerpoint with their monotone voices. To me, that shows that they don't care and I want to show that caring is cool and a necessity.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that it is good to bring humor into the classroom. It is ok to show our students that we are human and that we can have a good time.
DeleteI hope that when my students are watching me, they are learning how to treat others with kindness, handle challenges, and be confident in themselves. One of our class rules is to treat others the way you want to be treated, and I try to model that every day through my interactions with students by speaking respectfully, listening to others, and helping students work through conflicts with kindness. Recently, I have also been making a conscious effort to let students see me make mistakes. I want them to understand that I am not perfect and do not always have all the answers, but I can stay calm, think through a problem, and find a solution. I encourage my students to view mistakes as learning opportunities. Our class mantra is, "We are can do kids," something I borrowed from a coworker. I hope these experiences teach my students that they are valuable, capable, and resilient.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think about what I learned from observing my own teachers and coaches, the positives outweigh the negatives. One of the most positive lessons I learned was that consistent encouragement and reassurance can help build students' confidence in themselves. One of the most negative lessons came from seeing favoritism and the impact it can have on students. Those experiences helped shape the kind of teacher I strive to be today.
I love that mentioned allowing your students to see you make mistakes! This is so important to show that that we are all learning and we get better by learning from our mistakes!
DeleteSorry that last comment was me! “Oopsies… I made a mistake but it’s OK. It’s OK!” (Gabby’s Dollhouse)
Delete“Perception is a powerful tool. Students will learn more from you than opening a book.” What do you hope your students are learning from you? (Your answer should not contain content-related examples such as, ‘I’m a math teacher so I hope my students are learning math from me.’) What do your students learn by watching you? What did you learn simply by observing some of your own teachers, both the good and the bad?
ReplyDeleteI hope my students are learning that perfection is unrealistic. "Practice makes progress" is a quote from chapter 2 that resonates with me on so many levels. I want my middle school students to know that they are an important work in progress, our goal is not perfection but growth and learning and those things can be difficult to quantify.
As an educator and as a human, I am very transparent about my human imperfections and growth. I have faced health challenges that temporarily took me out of the game and I was unsure if I would return to professional life. Some of the scars of those health challenges are apparent and always catch peoples' attention. Middle schoolers are sure to ask about the scars. I welcome that because it gives me a chance to share about the challenges I faced and lived through- but not without scars, both apparent and not apparent. This creates a connection between us and often brings up others in their lives with health challenges as well and I think it humanizes me for them- they relate me to others in their lives that they love and trust begins to develop.
My guiding goal as an educator that I tell my students on day one is that I want them to develop into good humans - and that it won't happen overnight and there will be mistakes, but the practice is worth it!