I was recently posed with the question, what is teaching excellence? When I first heard the question, a million ideas flooded into my thoughts and I began to feel that this was an easy-to-answer question. However, when I began to reflect and compose my response I found the question to be much more complex than I had originally perceived. I hope to reflect on this question throughout my year as a Martin Institute Resident and the years after. For now, here is my perception of what teaching excellence might be:
Teaching excellence is a process that begins as a belief and becomes a way of life. The transition begins with having an understanding that in order to teach excellence, we must be excellent. This means that, as teachers, we are students of our profession and are dedicated to finding the most innovative and effective ways to engage students in learning. We must become immersed in discussion amongst other educators and continue to be reflective learners in our practice. Only when one is dedicated to being excellent can he or she can begin to teach excellence.
In this regard, teaching excellence becomes the way of life. It is a way of life that teachers pass onto their students through lessons, conversations, and discussions. To teach excellence means that teachers hold high expectations for their students; students are not just expected to excel academically, but also personally. Teachers must encourage students to be excellent both inside and outside the classroom. In order for students to reach these expectations though, we must serve as guides and model willingness and desire to grow. Teaching excellence also tears down the classroom walls and expands the learning into the local and global community. When teachers provide learning opportunities that connect students from the classroom to the real world, students are able to learn on a much deeper level and experience excellence.
Students who are motivated to learn, explore, and grow are the result of teaching excellence.
Now I ask you, what is teaching excellence?
Teaching excellence is a process that begins as a belief and becomes a way of life. The transition begins with having an understanding that in order to teach excellence, we must be excellent. This means that, as teachers, we are students of our profession and are dedicated to finding the most innovative and effective ways to engage students in learning. We must become immersed in discussion amongst other educators and continue to be reflective learners in our practice. Only when one is dedicated to being excellent can he or she can begin to teach excellence.
In this regard, teaching excellence becomes the way of life. It is a way of life that teachers pass onto their students through lessons, conversations, and discussions. To teach excellence means that teachers hold high expectations for their students; students are not just expected to excel academically, but also personally. Teachers must encourage students to be excellent both inside and outside the classroom. In order for students to reach these expectations though, we must serve as guides and model willingness and desire to grow. Teaching excellence also tears down the classroom walls and expands the learning into the local and global community. When teachers provide learning opportunities that connect students from the classroom to the real world, students are able to learn on a much deeper level and experience excellence.
Students who are motivated to learn, explore, and grow are the result of teaching excellence.
Now I ask you, what is teaching excellence?