Submitted by Shari Kuehl (not verified) on March 2, 2008 - 08:07.
Jim,
My name is Shari Kuehl and I am a fourth grade teacher in Lena, IL. Your topic of empathy struck a personal cord with me.
My high school guidance counselor told me I would make a good mom or flight attendant. He also told me I would not be suited for any other working field. Obviously, I proved him wrong. The reason I bring this memory up, is sometimes, I feel, in education we make 'things' too hard. To me, empathy is a character trait that you should be able to demonstrate with every waking moment you are alive as a teacher. Children/students have many models in their life from real to computer enhanced, but the power we have is right at our finger tips every day. It is in how we speak to our peers, our support staff, former and future students, our families, the public, etc. It is how you spend class time, down to every precious second. There are simple avenues that can allow for redirection, that inherently speak to the tender human spirit we all need to take such good care of. For example, if a student answers a question wrong; instead of saying, "No, that is in correct!" How about, "Good idea, you are warm." You have validated them for taking a risk and yet you have not diminished their character by saying they are wrong. We learn from our mistakes. Our reactions and behaviors have more power, on most occasions, then any textbook they read out of.
The other topic that I have oodles to comment on are the way we present information to students and their relevance. Again, you do not need a canned program to help tie any expected curriculum and or test to a student. Ask them. Give them credit. See what their ideas are. Allow them to make the connection for themselves and for their peers. To me, teaching has changed dramatically since I was in school and since I first started teaching. I see myself as a facilitator, not as a dictator of knowledge. My job is to help in enhance current knowledge and needs, through higher order thinking processes, of the students I have in my classroom at that very moment. Next years group of needs will be completely different. But, the avenues of success lie in front of me. This is the beauty of teaching. We just keep getting better and better as change occurs at such a rapid pace!
Student apathy!
Submitted by Shari Kuehl (not verified) on March 2, 2008 - 08:07.
Jim,
My name is Shari Kuehl and I am a fourth grade teacher in Lena, IL. Your topic of empathy struck a personal cord with me.
My high school guidance counselor told me I would make a good mom or flight attendant. He also told me I would not be suited for any other working field. Obviously, I proved him wrong. The reason I bring this memory up, is sometimes, I feel, in education we make 'things' too hard. To me, empathy is a character trait that you should be able to demonstrate with every waking moment you are alive as a teacher. Children/students have many models in their life from real to computer enhanced, but the power we have is right at our finger tips every day. It is in how we speak to our peers, our support staff, former and future students, our families, the public, etc. It is how you spend class time, down to every precious second. There are simple avenues that can allow for redirection, that inherently speak to the tender human spirit we all need to take such good care of. For example, if a student answers a question wrong; instead of saying, "No, that is in correct!" How about, "Good idea, you are warm." You have validated them for taking a risk and yet you have not diminished their character by saying they are wrong. We learn from our mistakes. Our reactions and behaviors have more power, on most occasions, then any textbook they read out of.
The other topic that I have oodles to comment on are the way we present information to students and their relevance. Again, you do not need a canned program to help tie any expected curriculum and or test to a student. Ask them. Give them credit. See what their ideas are. Allow them to make the connection for themselves and for their peers. To me, teaching has changed dramatically since I was in school and since I first started teaching. I see myself as a facilitator, not as a dictator of knowledge. My job is to help in enhance current knowledge and needs, through higher order thinking processes, of the students I have in my classroom at that very moment. Next years group of needs will be completely different. But, the avenues of success lie in front of me. This is the beauty of teaching. We just keep getting better and better as change occurs at such a rapid pace!