"The desire not to be anything is the desire not to be."-Ayn RandHave we ever taken the time out to ask our students, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I thought about that today after working with my student. If we add up all the hours we have spent from both semesters, it's enough to have a better understanding of their personalities. Not only are we seeing how they can develop as better readers, but we are gaining an awareness of their personal interests. Each day that we commit to our jobs as teachers, there are at least a handful of our students who will become successful teachers, lawyers, doctors, etc. Then there are others who may not have the best of jobs, yet will have the values and morals that will lead them to a good life. Even as educators, we can say to ourselves that a few of our former teachers have made an impact on our lives. Some of them guided us to make better choices in life. The best part about teaching is not just being able to see when you are making a difference, but when your students can see the difference in themselves.
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Annette,
ReplyDeleteI like your point! I think time for self reflection will be important for our students. Please continue to remind us of this! Glad to see you are encouraging metacognition. Way to go!
Your words hold so much truth in them! As educators, we shouldn't just pass on facts and information to our students, but we also need to guide them on their journey to "finding" themselves. Great self-reflection, Annette!
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, and yes! We're not just in the classroom to teach what's written in our course outlines, but more importantly, how to be good people. I hope we all can be forces for positivity in our students' lives. I know your kids are lucky to have you rooting for them every step of the way!
ReplyDeleteAnnette,
ReplyDeletesometimes we get so caught with the work we do, we forget to personalize our conversations with our student! We just keep pushing with the reading and vocabulary we forget to share and bond with them. I'm glad you opened my eyes, at least to take a few minutes to let them share a little of the day's events! I'll try more to think out of the box. Great Job Annette!