I currently observe an AP US history teacher that at my local high school as part of my Master of Arts In Teaching curriculum. He teaches with enthusiasm, keeps the students engaged for 90+ minutes and has the ability to demand students’ respect.  How many teachers can say that they do this – successfully?  

My teacher is one of those teachers who can influence a student’s life permanently and he is the type of teacher that you would invite to your wedding because he had such a profound effect on you in the classroom.  I feel that he will become the standard of how to teach in the classroom.  He knows how to understand the student, he empathizes with the student and, at the same time, pushes the student to become better academically.  

Since he teaches mostly honor courses, he knows that he must set a high standard for each student.  (Although even if he was teaching a regular course, I think that he would set a high standard too – I don’t think that it matters which course he is teaching.)  He treats all of the students equally and always gives compliments and encouragement.  The teacher definitely sets an expectation of hard work while constantly stimulating the students’ minds and probing for in-depth questions and answers.  He always goes the “extra mile” for his students and he is definitely my standard for my future classroom!

I wanted to write about a recent concept that I have learned in my Human Differences course while studying for my master of arts in teaching. I really liked learning about the “shipwreck”, a concept in regards to a learner’s identity.  When something devastating occurs in one’s life (in the school arena) it can be demoralizing.  This can include being diagnosed with a learning disability or learning that one’s reading level does not correspond to the grade level. At this point, the learner’s identity has “shipwrecked”  and the student has a choice: do I get back up or do I stay down?

The concept of the “shipwreck” assumes that the students gets back up and is amazed at what he/she can do and how he/she can progress even through a trial such as this.  The learner has had a crisis in his/her life, but has produced a better result in the end than what could have been before.  I really enjoy this concept because I can apply this to my own life.  I had/have trials in which I have been “shipwrecked” or stranded.  Although difficult, I have somehow managed to pick myself up and the pieces around me to create an even finer production than before.  If I can do it, you can do it!

Prior to beginning my studies in the Master of Arts in Teaching program at USC, I thought I could already tell you what all of the stakeholders in my community thought their connection to the local high school was. Having taught 11th and 12th grade history for five years, I was sure I knew the teachers’ view, as well as that of the principal, who I consider a close friend. I assumed that local groups and organizations cared only about our athletic programs, as they serve as the primary activities in the small town in which I teach.

After interviewing the different stakeholders I discovered that I had no real idea at all what their views or attitudes were regarding our school. The teachers do have a sense of membership in a club, and share the same frustrations, however their individual views of the roles of the other stakeholders can be significantly different. After interviewing parents I learned that the frustration teachers might feel with certain parents may very well be mutual. Interviewing a member of the local Lions Club taught me that those who belonged to service organizations care a great deal about the inner workings of the local school, and much less about the success of the football team on Friday nights.

Because of the interviews I did this past summer, I entered this school year with a different sense of respect for the other stakeholders in our community. I view the principal’s job with much greater respect. Parents that I might otherwise assume don’t care about the educational performance of their child I now assume to care a great deal. My view of our school, the students, my fellow teachers, and everybody else associated has become UN-jaded. I’ve always been an enthusiastic educator, but now have revitalized enthusiasm.