Quality Teaching Makes A Difference
in the Lives of Children
By June Teisan2007-2008 Michigan Teacher of The Year
When I tell people that I teach seventh graders I usually get a spirited mix of awe and sympathy in response!
A day in any classroom may have its highs and lows, but the usual ups and downs in education can be magnified when one teaches middle school! Early adolescents seem to be notorious for monumental mood swings, puzzling behavior patterns, and questionable decision-making skills. It's not uncommon to find that. . .
. . . one child hugs you on the way into class and practically dances to her seat as another rushes past with the weight of the world on his young shoulders.
. . . a lesson that grabbed student attention second hour somehow doesn't connect with kids in fourth period. At all. Forget about it.
So how to stay enthused and energized as an educator and meet these challenges head on? I believe quality teaching makes a difference in the lives of children, and in my twenty years of classroom experience I've settled on three keys to success in teaching - see if they resonate with you as a former student or perhaps as parent of a child currently in school.
First and foremost, teachers must love and respect the children entrusted to them. In a nutshell, kids don't care what you know until they know that you care. Effective science instruction at the middle school level has a certain flavor of "managed chaos," and your heart's gotta be in it as you 'go with the flow.' I love the off kilter antics and mercurial personality quirks of my little darlings, and I think my students pick up on that sentiment. In the flurry and buzz of a meaningful scientific inquiry with 25 - 30 kids scurrying off in different directions, a foundational base of mutual trust and genuine interest is imperative for the learning experience to be productive.
Next, every educator must be an expert in two realms - content and methodology - to maximize learning in the lives of students. Teachers who can create amazing, engaging lessons yet fail to deliver deep content and understanding are more entertainers than educators. On the opposite side of the coin, rich knowledge of content isn't enough for quality teaching; the most brilliant physicist may not be trained in how to convey that scientific knowledge to young minds. Expertise in both the "what" (content) and the "how" (methodology) are crucial to quality education.
Lastly, quality teaching moves outside of classroom walls to impact student lives beyond the school day. Attending sporting events to connect with student athletes where they shine, authoring grants to fund energizing extensions to learning for kids who don't experience museums and nature trips with their families, writing encouraging letters home about positive student traits that might not be reflected on a report card. . .these actions take time and a commitment to building up and affirming each child as an individual.
Teaching is art and science, method and material, heart and head. Coming alongside a diverse group of children to encourage a sense of wonder in the world around them, to invite students to tap into their talents and express their unique personalities in innovative ways is a source of joy for me. Even on days when I'm wrung out from the myriad demands of the job, I make contact with a touchstone truth deep inside of me: what I just poured myself into was of great significance - to that child, to his or her family, to our community and society.
Quality teaching makes a difference in the lives of children!
