![Picture](/uploads/4/3/8/8/43887583/8033479.jpg?156)
Teacher as a researcher:
To be an effective teacher, one must always be a student - in their content area, of the art of teaching, and of their own students. My passion for history and the other humanities means that I am always looking to broaden and deepen my understanding of my content area the world around me. It's important to relate that passion and enthusiasm to the students, to let them see how highly you value the subject. It's also important to research in order to better serve your students (see Right: "A year of learning" in the Edgewood ASP Program). That means always developing one's understanding of the content area, but also their understanding of teaching strategies and their own students. It's through this relationship of our "knowledges" that we are best able to serve our students.
To be an effective teacher, one must always be a student - in their content area, of the art of teaching, and of their own students. My passion for history and the other humanities means that I am always looking to broaden and deepen my understanding of my content area the world around me. It's important to relate that passion and enthusiasm to the students, to let them see how highly you value the subject. It's also important to research in order to better serve your students (see Right: "A year of learning" in the Edgewood ASP Program). That means always developing one's understanding of the content area, but also their understanding of teaching strategies and their own students. It's through this relationship of our "knowledges" that we are best able to serve our students.
Teacher as an advocate:
Being an advocate means fulfilling two essential roles. First and foremost, I must be willing to stand up for my students and for their education. That doesn't mean always taking their side in a dispute, but it does mean always being willing to push students to fulfill their potential and broaden their horizons. It also means ensuring a safe learning environment for all my students. My other job as a teacher is to educate young people not only about history and the other humanities, but about the importance of those subjects. I should be an advocate for history as a fundamental part of a well-rounded education.
Being an advocate means fulfilling two essential roles. First and foremost, I must be willing to stand up for my students and for their education. That doesn't mean always taking their side in a dispute, but it does mean always being willing to push students to fulfill their potential and broaden their horizons. It also means ensuring a safe learning environment for all my students. My other job as a teacher is to educate young people not only about history and the other humanities, but about the importance of those subjects. I should be an advocate for history as a fundamental part of a well-rounded education.
Teacher as a craftsperson:
Being a craftsperson means always working. Always working to hone your abilities and improve upon them. As a teacher, it is important to reflect upon lessons and units and assessments to see if you might have done something better - might have been better able to serve your students. Because teaching is something that, to be done right, requires the commitment of your entire being, part of the life of an educator is that you will always be thinking about ways to improve the way you teach. You will always be searching for better materials and strategies, fully knowing you will never achieve the perfection for which you strive.
Being a craftsperson means always working. Always working to hone your abilities and improve upon them. As a teacher, it is important to reflect upon lessons and units and assessments to see if you might have done something better - might have been better able to serve your students. Because teaching is something that, to be done right, requires the commitment of your entire being, part of the life of an educator is that you will always be thinking about ways to improve the way you teach. You will always be searching for better materials and strategies, fully knowing you will never achieve the perfection for which you strive.
Teacher as a professional:
A teacher has the responsibility to conduct themselves in a manner befitting such a noble profession. It's often important for teachers to play many roles in the lives of their students and in their community. It's also important for teachers to dress in a way that stresses their professionalism and respect for their role as educator. I believe that teachers should always present themselves as role models for students and as trustworthy members of the broader community.
A teacher has the responsibility to conduct themselves in a manner befitting such a noble profession. It's often important for teachers to play many roles in the lives of their students and in their community. It's also important for teachers to dress in a way that stresses their professionalism and respect for their role as educator. I believe that teachers should always present themselves as role models for students and as trustworthy members of the broader community.
Below, you can click on the "Don't Take My Word For It..." button and it will take you to my Letters of Recommendation from other educators who have observed and worked with me and know about my teaching abilities.