Hmm...

A school built in Zambia to teach boys caught up in the choir scandal is now expanding.

CHECK IT OUT! 

Educational ethics at its finest. 

Zambia School

Does resilience define teaching?

As I was visiting with friends and family over Thanksgiving break, after I would tell someone I am going to school to become a teacher, usually their first reaction had something to do with how am I going to deal with the troublemakers in my classroom? While I will admit, I find their reactions historical because it simply furthers the fact that there are several misleading stereotypes in the classroom.

Are these people assuming that my profession is defined by the hard times? Are these people assuming that of my resilience is my savior in my profession? 

I find these questions to all be intriguing! As a future teacher, I know my job is going to be hard. I know that only the strong survive but that is what makes this profession so satisfying for me. Teaching is a challenge. It's one of those professions that makes a difference. If it wasn't for teachers, there would be no doctors, astronauts, or dentists. The world would be a much different place. 

Now, I am not here to argue that teacher is the best profession there is but what I am trying to say is it matters. Teaching is a worldwide concept that thrives off resilience. Teachers need to prepare themselves down the road my taking the mindset that I have. The mindset that I have is simple... SUCK IT UP! 

Yup, that's right. SUCK IT UP. One of my TA's in college, whom I adore named Mr. Gutsche, once told me that no one loves their job completely. He also stressed that there are parts you like your job and then there are those things that you don't like about your job but no job is perfect! What he made me realize I will never forget. Even when I work in the summer as a lifeguard at a country club, I find myself complaining about the little things like how I hate cleaning up after extremely rich people but after smile politely at the members and calm down, I would remember what my teacher had told me. I would then remember that I am getting paid to sit outside all day and get the best food around. 

As you can see, teaching is a bit different than life-guarding but all jobs are same in the fact that it is what you make it. Resilience is the ability to adapt, which is so huge in teaching. No class or year is ever going to be perfect but it's how you deal with is as a teacher. It is how you mental prepare yourself for those set backs in life that separate the good teachers and the bad. 

One statistic states that 50% of teachers change professions less than three years into their career. While that seems shocking, I would love to see the comparison of this statistic to the others because while I believe 50% is high, I am sure there are higher ones. People are funny in the fact that no one likes their jobs. I can't tell you how many times I hear my parents complain about their jobs and some people just can't take it. 

But what I think we can do to help prepare teachers is install a better mindset. I think teachers are going into the classrooms with negative connotations that are effecting their ability as teachers. School districts need to emphasize how important teachers are and allow the teachers to feel like they do make a difference in the district, community, and the child's lives. 

Nobody's Perfect

Ahhh humility. One of my more experienced subjects, if I don't say so myself. My most recent experience of humiliation has to do with me wishing one of my friends happy birthday but calling her by the wrong name. Ouch. 

But humility comes in all forms. I've been humiliated through actions, words, and even test grades. Yikes. As a college student, I feel as if humiliation is added in to my tuition. Basically, humiliation is apart of the college experience and should be. 

Unfortunately for me, I don't deal with humiliation lightly. I am constantly reminded my by my father, and I quote, "No one is perfect. Everyone has their share of problems." Well, duh, dad, but didn't I ever tell you that my problems are more earth shattering than anyone else's? :)

But in reality, as much as a I hate to admit it, humiliation is all apart of life. However, again as my parents are so full of wisdom, after I am completely embarrassed and in tears, I take a step back, look at the big picture, and remember that it's how you handle yourself that makes the difference in the long run. 

For example, it is a fact that every humiliation I could described to you, I HAVE SURVIVED. Yes, despite what Dr. L might believe during some 8 o'clock morning classes when I barely look a wake, I am alive and breathing.

Teachers, like students, have to find that balance between confidence and humility. Like if you are wrong, you are wrong. Own up to your mistake and MOVE ON. I know it is hard sometimes after you mess up on a math problem or one of your students call you out on something but you will be okay. You are not God's gift to earth so I think you ego should still be okay. 

Like my father always said... No one is perfect. 

Collaborating to Success

Okay, Okay. So I will be honest and say that I feel like recently my blog has become more of a promotion of education than anything else but in reality, all the things I am talking about are important in education and are in need of some serious rival in our school systems today.

Collaborativeness is no exception. In order for a school system to be successful it needs to incorporate collaboration between all departments. What makes collaberativeness effective is engaging participants. Every achievement begins with a choice and in order to achieve great things in the classroom, every teacher needs to make a choice to work wither not only the students to their best ability but also with other teachers as well.

It should also be noted that collaboration is different than group work or cooperative learning due to the fact that collaboration involves each person sharing and giving ideas. In group projects and often cooperative learning, not everyone is doing equal amounts of work. Also, during these instances, often times people do their own work and then come together.

For example, for my religion project on the Dead Sea Scrolls, my group was suppose to investigate the community involved in making the scrolls. While we were all suppose to work together on this, every college student knows that everyone's schedules are hectic and finding a time to meet in person is limited. So after several attempts to get together to work on it, we decided that we would just have to do our own separate parts and all come together at the very end of the project to try and present a well polished piece.

As you can see, collaboration is effective because it is rare. If teachers would collaborate with each other people, I think they would find their jobs more enjoyable and easier. However, time plays a huge factor in collaboration and sadly, in this day and age, people simply do not have the time.

But my theory on this is if music artists can collaborate, why can't teachers?

Efficacy: The blue pill or the red pill

Blue pill or red?

After watching this short video clip, I bet you are wondering what in the world the Matrix has to do with education? Well you see, for me, I view this clip as I view education. Education is simple; it's all about taking the red pill! The red pill in education is all about the confidence that is needed in order to be an effective teacher. While the blue pill stands for all the doubters in the world. As I see it, every teacher has a choice; they can wither take the blue pill and coast through everyday without challenging themselves in the classroom OR teachers can take the red pill, challenge themselves and the those around them and trust in their abilities.

Beyond my personal want for a pill that will regulate all the teachers in the world, there is no red or blue pill that teachers can take. Sad day, but I think the use of drugs in schools by teachers would send the wrong message. However, in order to be an effective teacher, no pill is needed, there are just characteristics that need to be present in every teacher's personality.

First, a teacher must have self-awareness or realize his or her strengths. A teacher must also be confident, efficient, persistent, flexible, engaging, creative, patient, and most importantly have a good work ethic. Okay. So I have a good idea of what you are thinking right now... Holy cow; that is a lot of stuff to be. While there are a lot of admirable characteristics that every teacher should be, it is important that every teacher STRIVES towards this characteristics! No one expects teachers to be perfect, okay, I lied maybe every student's parents, but, really, it's all about wanting to be improve.

That's what all these attributes are all about and best developed by that drive inside a teacher that constantly wants MORE from teaching, learning, and their students. Also, these attributes are best developed through practice and experience. Not to advert back to the Matrix again but Keanu Reeves, who plays Neo, has to go through hell and back before he is ready to be in the Matrix. This is how teaching is! The classroom is like the Matrix only it's scarier because it's real life and it deals with real people's futures.

As you can see, teaching is all bout faking it to you make it. As bad as it sounds, it's true. Life, like education, is about trial and error. However, it is about educated trial error. Basically the take home message from is trust in your abilities and dare to be bold.

So what's it going to be? You've made your career choice to become a teacher, so now comes the easy part...What color pill would you take?

"Remember all I am offering is the truth, nothing more..."