Monday, August 3, 2009

Lessons Learned


So I’m starting my 17th year of teaching this Aug.
And here are a few things I believe:

All kids want to be liked. Until they feel liked-they can’t learn a thing.

Kids come to school to be with their friends. If I’m good at what I do, I might be a close 2nd. And I can live with that.

Kids really do like learning cool, new stuff. Doing all the tedious work? That’s not for everybody. And I get that-really.

Kids will work for a tough teacher who is consistent, fair, and just.

Kids are excellent judges of character. You may fool their parents-but never them. So be transparent. They can respect that.

Sarcasm doesn’t belong in the classroom. Wit, verbal irony, and dramatic monologues-absolutely!

There are no bells or whistles that can replace your passion for what you teach.

Laugh at them; laugh at yourself. Because the journey is gonna be long & difficult.

Say you’re sorry-or wrong-publicly, clearly, sincerely, directly.

Everybody screws up BIG sometime. And everybody deserves one free do-over. Because redemption makes us all better people.


3 comments:

  1. Amen to all of the above! Well said Donna! And so here we go....

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for the motivation. I'm struggling to get back into the groove.

    ReplyDelete