Several years ago, a mentor of mine told me that our students will not remember the curriculum we present to them as their teachers; however, they will remember how we made them feel. This statement had a tremendous impact on me. I reflected on my own teachers growing up. I too did not recall the curriculum any one teacher in particular taught. In truth, I did not recall many teachers. I did remember the two types of teachers at both ends of the bell curve, the great ones and the terrible ones. The more I thought about this I found it sad that so many teachers were (in my mind) in the middle of that bell curve. they had had an opportunity to inspire, influence, or motivate me, but instead simply taught me their assigned curriculum. I wasn't sure which was worse, the teachers who had simply faded into the recesses of my mind or the teachers who were great examples of what not to be.
So my question to you is two-fold:
1) What were the qualities of the great teachers you had in the past?
2) What are you going to do to be remembered as a great teacher who made students feel inspired?
To my fellow classmates: Be joyful! Be amazing! Be remembered!
