Why Teach?

February 18, 2014, presentation at Blades Hall at the University of Dubuque for pre-service teachers.

It was a joy to spend 1 1/2 hours with pre-service teachers at the University of Dubuque.  The topic was, "Why Teach?" and was focused around the following characteristics of effective teachers:

1. Passion - loves to teach;
2. Organization - excellent communicator and proactive rather than reactive;
3. Content Knowledge - understands the content and knows how to explain it so the students understand it;
4. Relationship building - cares about students and challenges them;
5. Classroom environment - thinks outside the box;
6. Lifelong learner and strives for continuous improvement.

Additional advice included:

1. Never stop learning!
2. Develop a support system!
3. Sharpen your skills!
4. Stay focused!
5. Take joy in what you do!
6. Eat healthy and exercise!

 We looked at HOT BUTTONS in today's education world:

• Common Core
• Assessment
• Performance-based evaluations
• MTSS/RtI
• Early Literacy - Third Grade Retention

 Those in education are reminded:

• We are letters to our students written not on tablets of stone but on human hearts.
• As educators, we do not merely fill a bucket but we kindle a fire.

The evening finished with a story about "Anthony," as they were reminded that sometimes we learn more from our mistakes than from our successes.  Hope I can share it with you sometime.  It involves a student and a broken dog.  Ask me about it - it's a story I love to share!  This dog sits on my window sill every year, a constant reminder of a student who taught me a very important lesson!