This video clip demonstrates the impact a teacher can have on a child's mind, opinions, and life.
- MOTIVATION
- The students from Parkmont High School did not care about anything. They were unmotivated to learn and truly unmotivated about every aspect of their life. Mrs. Johnson learned after the first day of class that she needed to find a way to "get through" to the students, but it wasn't as easy as it sounded. She had to be creative (another skill teachers must posess) and find something that the students were interested in.
- Some of the tactics Mrs. Johnson used were:
- Teaching verbs through karate and real-life, relatable sentences
- Competition for prizes (night out to dinner)
- Class rewards (visit an amusement park)
- Bribery (candy for class participation)
- PARENT-TEACHER COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS
- Mrs. Johnson had a difficult time connecting with the parents of her students. These problems can be attributed to socio-economic status boundaries, as most of her students did not own telephones or cars to be able to have a conference. In additon, many did not speak English. However, she did not let these factors stop her from reaching the families of her students. She chose to go on home visits to convey the positive messages she wanted communicated and it truly made a difference in her students' lives, perceptions of school, and overall motivation.
- THAT THE RULES OF A SCHOOL ARE NOT ALWAYS BEST PRACTICE
- Mrs. Johnson was faced with a principal who lacked compassion and a school board who has "written off" the high school in general. She had no supplies, no support, and no teaching experience. She received reprimands from Mr. Grandey (the Principal) for her attempts to reach her students, but she did not waiver. She pushed ahead and did what she knew was right for herself and her class. She voiced her beliefs and stood her ground, but she did not break ethical or legal laws. The most important thing to learn is that only you, the classroom teacher, know what is best and right for your class. You see them every day, so you are the only one who can judge what they need, when, and why. Don't break teaching ethics or morals, but also don't be afraid to do what you know is truly right.
- COMPASSION
- No matter where you work or who you teach, teaching is an occupation that often "takes over" your entire life. You can't help but become involved in the lives of your students. As a teacher, don't be afraid to care about your students and show them that you care. The more invested you are in the lives and academics of your students, the more postive and long-term your impact and influence will be.
