Educator
One of the most rewarding, exhausting, and determining jobs is being an educator. I grew up around many educators in my life. I never really knew how much the job of being an educator pertained to those adjectives. No one really understands what an educator has to do until one has to walk into a classroom and teach. Experiencing how to teach on my own was a big eye-opener. I realized how students can really behave and act in the real classroom. It takes a special person to be able to walk up in front of a class and educate students while trying to inspire them. Teachers need to have many strong qualities to help them through the job.
One of the most important qualities is having love for the students. I have noticed over the years of being around many teachers that if one does not love children then one can not fulfill the job like they should. Education is based around students and the desire to have the students do their best. With out love, one could probably get the job done; however, students would be able to see right through the teacher and eventually not trust them. So therefore, they can become unwilling to learn.
Along with having love for the students, caring is a different aspect. In my life, the best teachers were the ones that cared. The best educators are those who try to take the time to get to know each of their students. If this is done, teachers can understand the child and how they learn best.
The majority of the time it is difficult to be an educator. One has to deal with behavior issues and classroom management. A good educator needs to have patience for each student. Each student is coming from diverse backgrounds where he or she grew up around different rules and consequences. Not all students come from good households. Therefore, good educators need to take the time to have ways of approaching each student with the patience and understanding needed.
Lastly, an educator needs to strive to never give up. Giving up on one’s self or one’s students is a sign of a weak teacher. A good educator needs to push the students to try to do their best always. This way, the student and the teacher will feel like they have learned so much more. In my years of being educated, some of my teachers gave up easily. I look back on those times, and I wonder if I could have progressed more during those classes than I really did. As teachers, we should not have students question their education. A hard working educator should assess their teaching and improve from day to day and from year to year. Again, not only will the actual teacher benefit from being determined but the students will too.
Overall, educators need to believe in what they are teaching, otherwise, the students will not believe in the product. Having love and patience, showing care, being understanding, and being determined to never give up on the students and one’s self are important qualities to have as an educator. There are so many qualities that an outstanding educator should have but these are key characteristics that are important to me.
Pre-Student-Teaching
at
Penn State University
Penn State School of Music
Spring 2009: Third Grade General Music Class
Click above to see Rebecca teach a third grade music class!!
Fall 2009: Elementary Orchestra Rehearsal
On this day, students had the opportunity to have sectionals on their pieces. In this video above the students are combining as an ensemble for the first time after their sectional.
Elementary Lesson Plan:
| lesson_plan_3_village_dance_10-21.doc |
Rehearsing Elementary Orchestra: Fall 2009
*Elementary Lesson Plan and Reflection:
| 11-11-09_village_dance_lesson_plan.doc |
| reflection_for_village_dance_11-11-09.doc |
