Response to Katie Levett

Katie,
First of all, I want to tell you I love your blog format. It makes me want to redo my blog to make it more organized. Thanks for the motivation for that....now, let's hope I will have the time to do it :-)
The biggest thing that is important for us to do as teachers is to make sure we are giving our students positive feedback in our classrooms when the students do succeed like you said. I remember when I was in first grade I had a first grade teacher that belittled me and told me that I didn't know how to write, gave me a fat pencil, and made it known to the whole class that I was the "one that didn't know how to write." I had to always be the last one to sharpen my pencil because i had the "fat" pencil. Those are the situations that we need to give our students more positive reinforcement instead of that negative so that our students will 'contribute' to society.
I agree with you. Teachers are AMAZING leaders. I am glad you became a teacher. I can tell you are an excellent one!
Amen to your amen as well!! "life is a journey- enjoy and learn along the way. Live, laugh, and love."


The following is Katie's post:

Chapter 4. Being a Contribution: How will I be a contribution today?

The number one statement in a teacher’s job description should be – required to be a daily contribution toe ach and every student. As a teacher each of us should “assume” each and every one of our students will be successful and our job is to help that student get there. I’m not just talking about teaching the actual classes like reading, writing, and arithmetic. We need to let each student that each one of them is doing a good job and to praise them when they achieve success and not belittle them when they don’t. Students learn so differently and if one doesn’t fit inside the box educators seem to put all students in, then we need to make sure each student understands it’s ok to be in their own box and we will work with them there. How can I be a contribution? I can ensure that each student is learning what he or she need to be successful and if that means I need to get inside their box and teach them there, then that is what I must do.

Chapter 5. Leading from Any Chair: We’re all leaders. How can we make a difference in the people will influence each day? How do we listen to those who help us make our dreams become reality?

Teachers have always played an important role in my life and I try to remember that when I working with many students or just one student. If it happened to me I know it happened to others and if I’m influencing my students, I want them to know that I’m with them all the way. I want to see they fulfill their dreams as some of the teachers I had helped me to realize mine. When I’m working one-to-one I do my best to get them to talk to me, to show or tell me what they are striving for so I can help them choose the right path to arrive there. For example, when they register for classes and start considering changing majors I begin asking questions like where do they see themselves in five years, or what is your favorite past time. Most of the time I find the student is worried about a teacher they have heard about or is dreading one class and doesn’t want to take it. They figure of they change majors then they won’t have to have a certain teacher or take that awful class. Drastic I know. But it has happened.

As I have gotten older, I find I listen better than I ever have in my life. Not sure why. Maybe it’s because as we age we find through listening we learn more. My grandmother use to say, “An empty cart rattles when it rolls.” In other words someone who talks a lot usually says nothing. Listening to those who make our dreams a reality means we need to listen to their advice. And follow it. They tell us things honestly so we don’t make the mistakes they did or because they have learn through others what it takes for us to arrive at our destination.

Chapter 6. Rule Number 6: Don’t take yourself so seriously. Life is a journey–enjoy and learn along the way. Live, laugh, and love!!


Amen. One of my favorite quotes and I have it on my website, Facebook page, and other areas is: Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, a soda in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out

and screaming ‘WOO HOO... what a ride!’ My grandmother had an old saying “You learn something new everyday.” I totally agree. I cannot tell you how many times my students have come to class and shown me some new technology or a piece of equipment that I have not heard of before. In the production industry, software and hardware are updated about every 12 to 18 months. Many times the students are the teachers because there isn’t anyway one person can keep up with all of it.

Learning daily is a process every generation has done. I have students of all ages in class. My older students are there to update or add to their degree. My traditional students want to work in the business asap. The common factor with all ages is that they’re all there to learn.