Resolutions

I've also had the opportunity to watch other teachers (mainly supply teachers), besides my really fabulous AT, and make some decisions about things I want to do and will never do as a teacher. Here are my thoughts below:

1.I will never talk down to a student or make them feel dumb, bad, stupid or inadequate.
2.I will never publicly embarrass a student.
3.If I ever become a supply teacher, I will be the kind who engages students, makes their classroom interesting, tries to get to know who the students are and ensures that they still learn in the absence of their teacher.
4.I will never use a textbook as a teaching tool, only as a resource. A textbook, no matter how well written it is, can never replace good teaching.
5.I will never say that a subject that students learn about is “boring” regardless of how I personally feel about the topic.
6.I will strive to make all subjects interesting for my students and give them the opportunity to see adventure, magic and wonder (no matter how old they are) in every subject.

I hate to get all dogmatic about the teaching profession, but this role is so crucial to our society and it can really make or break an entire generation of young people. Like parenting, it is such a delicate art that cannot have enough written about and something that you can be learning about for a lifetime. I am proud to be a profession of lifelong learning.