My Philosophy:
Hiam Gignot's poem hangs in my class:
The
Teacher - An Instrument of Power
by Haim Ginott
by Haim Ginott
I have come
to a frightening conclusion.
I am the decisive element in the classroom.
I am the decisive element in the classroom.
It is my personal
approach that creates the climate.
It is my daily mood that makes the weather.
It is my daily mood that makes the weather.
As a teacher
I possess tremendous power
to make a child's life miserable or joyous.
I can be a tool of torture
or an instrument of inspiration.
to make a child's life miserable or joyous.
I can be a tool of torture
or an instrument of inspiration.
I can humiliate
or humor, hurt or heal.
In all situations, it is my response
that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated,
and a child humanized or de-humanized.
In all situations, it is my response
that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated,
and a child humanized or de-humanized.
Thanks for including this poem regarding the power of the teaching profession. At the end of each day, I often wonder how well I handled myself---what sort of mood did I create in the classroom? Was my response to a student's sarcastic comment effective? But, most of all, did I do what I could, in that moment, in that breath, to help my learners feel worthy and humanized.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Nice seeing you again!
And very nice to connect with you again, Chad. We really missed you at the summer institute. I heard you were sick -- hope you had a good rest of the summer. Looking forward to getting to know you in this class.
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