Teacher Appreciation Week

Posted on May 8, 2012 by The EQ Educator

What would we have done without those teachers who have helped us get to where we are today? What will we do without those teachers who, today, continue to plant positive seeds in our generations to come? I don’t know about you, but personally I owe a debt of gratitude to all of those teachers who have crossed my path. As I celebrate my birthday (May 8th), I also want to express my sincere appreciation to all teachers, a few in particular.

To Maryann Tressler, my high school World and Modern History teacher. Without your challenging approach to teaching history I would not have an understanding of world events today and a love of history. You were that shining star that helped us to focus on our future and that we (as inner city students) did not have to settle for less. For this and more, thank you.

To Mrs. Maynard, my junior high school (it wasn’t middle school back then) Algebra I teacher who “simplified” this often troublesome subject for many students – young and old. Your no-nonsense style allowed us to learn in a safe and (mostly) disruption free learning environment; and your ability to engage us in our own learning. For this, I thank you.

To Ms. Ford (who I am unsure if she is still with us), my fourth grade teacher whom I initially feared because of your stern presence in the classroom. That fear was quickly eliminated when you showed compassion to this student who struggled with long division. You gave me the confidence not to quit. Again, for this I say thank you. Continue reading →

Life is a Journey

Posted on April 16, 2012 by The EQ Educator

Many of us, as educators, have had many experiences that have shaped the person that we are. We’ve had our ups and downs and our share of difficult spots, if you will. We don’t have a monopoly on this life’s journey…our students have their share also. Below is something to share with the students you work (especially for this year’s graduates) with to provide them with some words of wisdom that can help them on their life journey.

Your life journey is comparable to a map; you must define the origin, destination, vehicle, backpack, landmarks, and route. With a map in front of you, your journey will be a lot more likely to end where you want.

Origin: Who you are right now? To gain insight concerning yourself, you need to look intimately at your beliefs, values, and ethics aside from your economic, professional, cultural, and civil status. Furthermore, also reflect on your skills, knowledge, strengths, and weaknesses.

Destination: Who do you want to be? Your destination should envelop all the aspects of your being: the physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual.

Vehicle: How are you going to get there? You need to make a map as to what methods you have accessible to help you arrive at your destination. Education, money, and time – they all play into this.

Travel Bag: You bring with you certain knowledge, skills, and attitudes. These decide your ability and help you in attaining your vision. Given such, there is a need for you to evaluate what knowledge, skills, and attitudes you have at present and what you need to get along the way.

Landmarks and Route: Landmarks confirm if you are on the right track while the route determines the travel time. Therefore, in planning out your life, you also need to have landmarks and a route. These landmarks are your measures of success. These measures must be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time bound. In other words…SMART.

On your journey, anticipate turns, detours, potholes and any other obstacles which may surface.

The purpose of your life map is to reduce hurried and spur-of-the-moment decisions that can make you be unable to find your way. However, often our plans are modified along the way due to some inconveniences, delays, and other situations beyond our control. Like in any path, there are turns, detours, and potholes. With a basic map in place, these little changes won’t be so difficult.

We Teach What We Know But Create What We Are

Posted on April 2, 2012 by The EQ Educator

I heard this (title) statement made by John C. Maxwell and it really resonated with me. Of course, he was making the statement in reference to leadership but I believe it is relevant to educators as well because as an educator you are a leader. You are a leader for your students. You are a leader for your colleagues/co-workers. You are a leader in your school or on your campus. PERIOD.

Let’s examine the title of this post. The first part states, we teach what we know. As an educator you have acquired an abundance of knowledge through education, professional development and experience to name a few; and with this knowledge you, no doubt, have shared what you “know” with others or at least appear that you know something. You may have tendencies to “teach” through your intellect or experience which is not uncommon. In fact, it is expected. You are where you are today because of the knowledge you have acquired and by putting it in action. We all know that knowledge is power, right? Wrong. Knowledge is power when put to use. Otherwise you just have information.

If you are a classroom teacher, you use the knowledge acquired from your teacher education program (initially) to teach your students. If you are an administrator, you use the knowledge from training and experience to lead your school, department or program. If you are an advisor or counselor, you use the knowledge from multiple sources. Regardless of your role, what you know helps you to do your job. So it is fair to say we teach what we know. Continue reading →

There Are No Magic Seeds

Posted on March 19, 2012 by The EQ Educator

Having served in education for over twenty years, there appears at times that students just don’t seem to get it. Get what, you ask? They just don’t seem to get what you are conveying to them in order for them to be successful. Though well intended, you feel as if your “words of wisdom” are falling on deaf ears. Unlike with Jack (of Jack and the Beanstalk), there are no magic seeds (I know they were beans but work with me) that you can plant and then see miraculous growth before your eyes.

This may be true that you are not in possession of ‘magic seeds’ but you do have seeds to plant, regardless of what student population you are working with. As with any seed that is planted, there will be a time lapse from planting to harvesting. Taking this analogy further, the seeds that you plant in your students may not manifest during your “time” with them. In other words it may be months or even years before those seeds manifest.

Look at your own lives. Who planted seeds in you when you were a student and when did you realize the personal growth from those seeds? You may have had that elementary school teacher who said, “work hard and do your best,” or that high school guidance counselor who encouraged you to “pursue higher education if you want to reach your dreams,” or it could have been that college adviser who told you to “keep pressing on despite how difficult it may seem.” Those were seeds that may have helped you to get where you are. You may have made similar statements to your students, but it doesn’t appear to be getting through to them sometimes. Continue reading →

Education’s Next Top Model

Posted on March 11, 2012 by The EQ Educator

No. I’m not talking about the type of model who spends hours putting on make-up, changing wardrobes or walking down a catwalk. Nor am I talking about those competitive individuals on “America’s Next Top Model” television show. I’m talking about the kind of model (role that is) you are for the students you work with.

Regardless of what population of students you work with, are you someone whom they can model themselves after that will help them to achieve? Charles Barkley (former NBA star) once said that he was nobody’s role model. After some of his on the court antics, I could see why not. Nonetheless, as an educator you are in an ideal position to be a top (role) model for your students. What qualities do you possess that you hope students will model? How about these: Continue reading →