I lucked out in the teacher department. From Mr. D in fourth grade, who would break up our studies with an all class dance to Rubberband Man to my AP Biology teacher in high school who lit my interest in science and technology. And so many in between. I even have favorite teachers that my kids had.
It's interesting that you organically grew into the role of teacher. Maybe taking that meandering route made you the supportive and inspirational teacher you are today.
I wasn't blessed with a favorite teacher until my sophomore year of university. Professor A taught Western Civilization and his passion for the subject was infectious. His lectures were more like sermons, in the best possible way. His teaching changed the way I saw the world and sparked my love for travel and my fascination with human evolution.
My college Shakespeare professor stood at the front of the room, lit cigarette dangling from his mouth as he recited Hamlet. This fostered a lifelong Bard passion in me.
I was so fortunate to have so many fantastic public school teachers, all the way through university. Mr. H was my first male teacher in 5th grade, and had this outrageous idea that learning could and should involve FUN and that curiosity should lead to exploration and not anxiety. Math became not merely useful, but fun. And occasionally awe-provoking. He led supervised recess games outside in the SNOW (when most other grades were "jailed" indoors). If he hadn't returned from Vietnam to teach (and he had friends who did not) I think my life as a student would have been much poorer for it.
Mrs. McV, my English 12 teacher, made it her mission to teach her college-bound illiterates how to write a coherent paragraph, and then...to string some of those into a coherent paper. That kind of thing really helps ya at many universities! :) She made us read poetry aloud, and made us memorize some things we selected for ourselves. She correctly diagnosed me (in private) as someone who would need to read some poetry nearly every day just to stay healthy. It means everything to be SEEN when you're 17.
I lucked out in the teacher department. From Mr. D in fourth grade, who would break up our studies with an all class dance to Rubberband Man to my AP Biology teacher in high school who lit my interest in science and technology. And so many in between. I even have favorite teachers that my kids had.
Love it!
It's interesting that you organically grew into the role of teacher. Maybe taking that meandering route made you the supportive and inspirational teacher you are today.
I wasn't blessed with a favorite teacher until my sophomore year of university. Professor A taught Western Civilization and his passion for the subject was infectious. His lectures were more like sermons, in the best possible way. His teaching changed the way I saw the world and sparked my love for travel and my fascination with human evolution.
My college Shakespeare professor stood at the front of the room, lit cigarette dangling from his mouth as he recited Hamlet. This fostered a lifelong Bard passion in me.
I was so fortunate to have so many fantastic public school teachers, all the way through university. Mr. H was my first male teacher in 5th grade, and had this outrageous idea that learning could and should involve FUN and that curiosity should lead to exploration and not anxiety. Math became not merely useful, but fun. And occasionally awe-provoking. He led supervised recess games outside in the SNOW (when most other grades were "jailed" indoors). If he hadn't returned from Vietnam to teach (and he had friends who did not) I think my life as a student would have been much poorer for it.
Mrs. McV, my English 12 teacher, made it her mission to teach her college-bound illiterates how to write a coherent paragraph, and then...to string some of those into a coherent paper. That kind of thing really helps ya at many universities! :) She made us read poetry aloud, and made us memorize some things we selected for ourselves. She correctly diagnosed me (in private) as someone who would need to read some poetry nearly every day just to stay healthy. It means everything to be SEEN when you're 17.
Oh yes! It’s all about being seen.
We all have had wonderful, thoughtful people in our lives. Sometimes, given all the others, it is hard to remember the good ones..
Working on staying focused on the good ones!