The best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book. ~Author Unknown
I recently read in one of John C. Maxwell's books that a lot of times people don't think they've had much success because they fail to celebrate the small victories. They wait for something "big" to happen before they can celebrate. We need to celebrate small victories as well.
Teachers are those daily victors that need to be celebrated. Every day a teacher enters a room and imparts knowledge to his/her pupils. That knowledge will help propel students into their destinies. A teacher makes many sacrifices daily to insure that each learner gets what he or she needs in order to grow and prosper. Not only does the teacher impart knowledge, he/she also wears many other hats as well. Teachers are care-givers, nurturers, protectors, judges in the classroom, advisors, mentors, referees, entertainers, problem-solvers, disciplinarians, singers, poets, master story-tellers, innovators, visionaries...need I go on? I don't think there is a student on the earth that does not expect their teacher to be a magician.
With that being said, every day there are victories in the classroom, and every day there is a cause for celebration. Even if its a simple pat on the back. Each day doesn't always seem victorious, but I know from experience that regardless of what it looks like, every day is a winning day when students are learning. They don't always learn the skills that are being taught; sometimes they learn from their mistakes, or how to be a better person, or they may have an aha moment. That happens because of the environment set and the modeling of a good educator.
Teachers provide something that no one can ever take away. Material valuables can be stolen, lost, or destroyed; however, what a teacher imparts will last forever. That in itself is a reason to celebrate. Plus celebrating helps to keep things in perspective. Who is important in your life, and why? Who has made valuable contributions in your knowledge bank? Who has offered guidance and encouragement? Who has cared? If the answer is "A teacher," then be sure to celebrate them!
Friday, May 8, 2015
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Day 7 #EdBlogADay #ThankaTeacher
It is Teacher Appreciation Week, and I've had many people to show their appreciation for me as an educator; however, I could not do what I do had it not been for some very important people - my own teachers. One teacher that particularly stands out in my mind is my high school homeroom teacher of four years, Mr. William Harris, who was also my science teacher. Although he was assigned to teach me science, it was his philosophy that stayed with me all these years. I remember him saying to me, "Ms. Murphy [my maiden name], you can be anything you want to be if you put your mind to it." It took years and years for that to really sink in, but today I believe that with all my heart all because of a seed Mr. Harris planted.
I remember another day when senior boys were coming in late and asking for pencils. Mr. Harris said, "Some of you are working now and buying all of this expensive attire for the prom, but you can't afford to buy a pencil? Isn't it amazing? People will pay for what they want, but beg for what they need. Buy what you need first, then if you have to, beg for what you want." Still today I see students purchasing excessive amounts of snacks at the concession stand, but they will show up in class without pencil or paper and expect the teacher to provide it for them.
My last memory that I would like to share was a memory that has helped me as I developed into the person I have become. I'll never forget it. I was in my junior year of high school, and the senior boys were having a conversation about who each of them were taking to the prom. I considered the girls they were taking to be beautiful, "mature" young ladies in that they were curvy and wore pretty make-up while I was bony and didn't have any clue as to how to apply the stuff. They were going on and on and on until finally Mr. Harris says, "Why are you all taking 'those kinds of girls?'" You should be taking someone like Ms. Murphy. She's respectful, smart, and intelligent. One young man replied, "Why would we take her? The only thing we would be getting is a brain in a skirt?" I was totally humiliated to the point that I wanted to crawl under a rock and disappear. But now as I look back on that day, I am so proud to be that brain in a skirt. My brain has evolved more than ever, and my skirts fit just fine around my curves, AND I can apply make-up now if I so desire!
I realize that Mr. Harris's message that day was that I was a lady to be respected, and what I had went much deeper than surface beauty. I'm not saying that if a woman is appealing to the eye that she doesn't possess that, I'm saying that what's on the inside will make the outside beautiful.
Thanks Mr. Harris, for the lessons you taught me. I share some of the same philosophies with my students today that you once shared with me. You are truly appreciated some 28 years later.
I remember another day when senior boys were coming in late and asking for pencils. Mr. Harris said, "Some of you are working now and buying all of this expensive attire for the prom, but you can't afford to buy a pencil? Isn't it amazing? People will pay for what they want, but beg for what they need. Buy what you need first, then if you have to, beg for what you want." Still today I see students purchasing excessive amounts of snacks at the concession stand, but they will show up in class without pencil or paper and expect the teacher to provide it for them.
My last memory that I would like to share was a memory that has helped me as I developed into the person I have become. I'll never forget it. I was in my junior year of high school, and the senior boys were having a conversation about who each of them were taking to the prom. I considered the girls they were taking to be beautiful, "mature" young ladies in that they were curvy and wore pretty make-up while I was bony and didn't have any clue as to how to apply the stuff. They were going on and on and on until finally Mr. Harris says, "Why are you all taking 'those kinds of girls?'" You should be taking someone like Ms. Murphy. She's respectful, smart, and intelligent. One young man replied, "Why would we take her? The only thing we would be getting is a brain in a skirt?" I was totally humiliated to the point that I wanted to crawl under a rock and disappear. But now as I look back on that day, I am so proud to be that brain in a skirt. My brain has evolved more than ever, and my skirts fit just fine around my curves, AND I can apply make-up now if I so desire!
I realize that Mr. Harris's message that day was that I was a lady to be respected, and what I had went much deeper than surface beauty. I'm not saying that if a woman is appealing to the eye that she doesn't possess that, I'm saying that what's on the inside will make the outside beautiful.
Thanks Mr. Harris, for the lessons you taught me. I share some of the same philosophies with my students today that you once shared with me. You are truly appreciated some 28 years later.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
#EdBlogaDay Challenge/How We Know When Our Profession is Respected
I signed up for this challenge I saw on Twitter #edblogaday with to blog daily, usually with specific topic with some flexibility. I took the challenge, then failed miserably at getting started. I'm not sure if I can "catch up", but I can certainly "catch-on." Today is Day 6 and the topic is "How We Know When Our Profession is Respected."
Times have changed tremendously since I was growing up. During my school years, if you were in trouble at school, you were definitely in trouble when you arrived home. In today's societies, if some students get in trouble in school, the teacher better believe she's/he's in trouble when that student gets home!!! However, that's not all students, not even most students. There are still those parents who raise their children to be respectful to teachers (or any adult). These parents go above and beyond to partnership with teachers and show how much they appreciate them for not only educating their children, but for protecting them, loving them, nourishing them, and in some instances - providing for them. There are community members that go out of their way during Teacher Appreciation Week and beyond to show their support for educators. There are numerous businesses that offer discounts to teachers. I love it when I go into an establishment and see something that I want (especially for my classroom) at a reasonable price, and I ask if they offer a teachers' discount, and their answer is, "Certainly!" It's also nice when I'm out having a conversation with someone that has nothing at all to do with education and I get asked, "Are you a teacher?" Do I smell like a teacher? Lol. So, in a nutshell I would say, "You know your profession is being respected when you get the kind of feedback that speaks to the appreciation of what you symbolize and represent."
Times have changed tremendously since I was growing up. During my school years, if you were in trouble at school, you were definitely in trouble when you arrived home. In today's societies, if some students get in trouble in school, the teacher better believe she's/he's in trouble when that student gets home!!! However, that's not all students, not even most students. There are still those parents who raise their children to be respectful to teachers (or any adult). These parents go above and beyond to partnership with teachers and show how much they appreciate them for not only educating their children, but for protecting them, loving them, nourishing them, and in some instances - providing for them. There are community members that go out of their way during Teacher Appreciation Week and beyond to show their support for educators. There are numerous businesses that offer discounts to teachers. I love it when I go into an establishment and see something that I want (especially for my classroom) at a reasonable price, and I ask if they offer a teachers' discount, and their answer is, "Certainly!" It's also nice when I'm out having a conversation with someone that has nothing at all to do with education and I get asked, "Are you a teacher?" Do I smell like a teacher? Lol. So, in a nutshell I would say, "You know your profession is being respected when you get the kind of feedback that speaks to the appreciation of what you symbolize and represent."
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Friday, April 3, 2015
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