Teaching Technique - Legacy
BY DEFINITION: Something handed down from an ancestor or a predecessor or from the past
How do you want your students to remember you?
If you are walking in a local mall and one of your former students sees you then runs to give you a hug and a thank you, would that make you happy.
If you overheard one of your students saying “she is the best teacher I ever had”, How would that make you feel?
What if they did not remember your name? What if they did not even remember who you were at all?
DO YOU CARE? Are you concerned about the concept of legacy at all? My guess is you haven’t really thought very much about it.
THINK ABOUT IT. Wouldn’t it be nice to be remembered fondly?
Wouldn’t it be nice to be some student’s favorite teacher?
My first day of school (every year I taught), I would say to my students “my goal is to be the best teacher you ever had”.
ACTION STEP: Have a poster made with the word LEGACY printed on it. Hang it on the wall in your classroom so that you see it from every position in the room. As you teach, you will be constantly reminded that you want to teach in a manner that will make them remember who you are.
IMPORTANT: Change the poster quarterly. Change the color of the text and/or change the font type. The human animal has the ability to “GET USE TO IT”. If you don’t change it, you will get use to it and not even see it after three months.
EXAMPLES:
Hassan Raheem remembers his teacher Mr. Lee. He had an experience whereas he was supposed to give an oral report on an assignment. He did not do the assignment and was struggling to say “just something”. Hassan said he had lost his assignment. Mr. Lee replied if you have done the assignment it would be in your mind. Your mind is with you. You do not want to lose your mind. Hassan has remembered this for 50 years. He now focuses on putting concepts in his mind, completing assignments, and being able to speak with wisdom. Mr. Lee is REMEMBERED. (FOR OVER 50 YEARS)
Another sample is from a lady who wishes to remain anonymous. She does not remember any teacher from elementary, middle or high school fondly, she attended massage school and remembers her massage teacher explaining before doing any massage focus on the concept of intent. Focus on a healing INTENT to avoid anything happening of a sexual nature. She explained that this concept has worked for her. NOTE: None of her public school teachers were MEMORABLE. Is that her or the teachers fault?
IN CONCLUSION:
I believe that you can teach in a way that you can be at very least memorable.
I believe that if you set the goal- I want to be your best teacher- You come very close to achieving that goal. BUT-no goal = no success.
You need to be a member of Classroom 2.0 to add comments!
Join Classroom 2.0