This Subject Ain't So Hairy

When you are a teacher, you are always learning. When you begin to think that you have learned enough, you are entirely in error. A teacher's job in any subject, is to be a master in the skills and knowledge. Continually doing research on the subjects you teach is necessary. You must keep studying and growing. And, not just the material needs expanding, but the teacher himself. Teachers are Professional Learners. "Inside every great teacher, there is an even better one waiting to come out" (Wong, The First Days of School). Teachers inspire life-long learning in their students, by first having the enthusiasm for it themselves. No one finishes a bag of Planters Peanuts one day realizing they have learned everything there is to learn. It takes Eternity to know everything and be good at everything. The fun of being alive is continually experiencing new situations, new relationships, new knowledge, and then learning to use it all for something worth all the time and effort you have put into it. Life is a learning experience, whether we succeed or not depends solely on how much dedication and perseverance we give.

More Not-So-Fuzzy Ideas from the Fuzzy One

Many kids won't remember the specific lessons or the subjects that you taught. Most of them, however, will retain the influence you had on them as one of the major adults in their lives growing up. They will remember your overall positive or negative nature, your enthusiasm for your subject or your boredom with. They will remember if you cared about them individually and as a whole. They won't remember what you wore, just if you showed the respect or irreverence for yourself.
They look at you with eyes seeking to learn who they want to become.
"Choose your love and love your choice" (quoted by Pres. Thomas S. Monson). This means realizing what a teacher really does- provides nurture and care to all people, whether they be students, colleagues, or neighbors, but especially students. You are with them for the majority of their day, and thus, have one of the greatest impacts on their emotional, spiritual, psychological, and physical well-being. Treat them as a Child of God. Treat them as you wish you would be treated. Treat them as a respected friend and fellow learner. All are Great in the sight of God. As teachers, we need that same sight; so when, everything else around them tumbles away, they have something to lean on- You. And, the love you showed for them, when perhaps no one else had bothered to. You are a teacher and a role model. A light in the darkness, and a friend in the midst of despair. You are a teacher, who loves all mankind, wanting the best for them all, and strives to fulfill the noble calling of being a teacher to God's children.
Never forget how important you are in the life of a student.

Reflections of an Auburn-haired Pre-Teacher

In all seriousness, I have learned a lot about becoming a teacher so far. Something that I am coming to realize more and more is that kids are not afraid to be challenged. They love having the opportunity to try new things and see what they are capable of doing! The responsibility of a teacher is to provide the ground and nourishment the students need to grow strong and stable. As a teacher we are the gardeners of the intelligence of these young souls. The mind of a student can either be enlarged or dulled by the influence of a teacher. Teachers are in a position to direct the zeal of a student toward learning. A good teacher not only helps his students in learning the material for his class, but for learning in general- for wanting to learn.