Module 1, Assignment 1: My Favourite Teacher
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During my educational career, I have come across several teachers who have been a key part of my learning experience. One teacher, however, still stands out in my mind as being my favorite teacher. I first started working with this teacher during my junior year of high school. I took two English classes from her and it was apparent straight away that this instructor was different. This teacher had a relaxed teaching style and classroom and students who entered her class wanted to learn what she was teaching without being forced. I can’t even remember one student that seemed to dislike this teacher. She rarely had to use discipline because students were so fond of her that we would normally willingly complete the tasks or activities that were assigned to us.
Students were encourage to take an active part of each class. While other teachers might stand at the front of the class and lecture for the entire period, this teacher was different. She wanted to know our opinions and desires and she listened to our answers and thoughts and took time to give each of us feedback. Our opinions or ideas were never wrong by her standard as it was okay for each student to have a different opinion. This is not to say that earning a good grade in her class was easy. In fact, she used a high standard when grading our work, but she was always available to help us achieve goals that we had set. It’s amazing that out of all the teachers I have encountered, she really stands out even years after I attended her classroom. I hope that during my teaching career I may also have this impact on some of my students.
My Favorite Teacher.
Definitely my Chemistry and my Biology teachers! They were passionate about their subjects, knowledgeable and fun at the same time. They made me feel interested and free to ask questions.
Least favorite, my Spanish teacher. He was incredibly boring. Spoke in a monosyllabic tone and really was no fun at all. He knew the Spanish language but seemed not to have a feel for it, no spark, no passion.
My favorite teacher was my fifth grade teacher, Ms. Freeman. At the age of 11, I was developing my cognitive capacity and she was able to capitalize on this stage of my development. Before my time with her I had no interest in reading, but during my time in fifth grade, she found out what interested me and found books she thought I would enjoy. The time she took out for me made me feel very special and I greatly appreciate this about her.
She was able to inspire me because she was passionate about teaching and used a variety of lessons to promote my creativity and provoke my interest. Although she was a fun teacher, she was able to lay down the law of the classroom in a good balance. This greatly increased my respect for her. Respect was always mutual with her and this is another reason why I believe her to be my favorite teacher
My Maths teacher i had at High School in Holland i would have to say was an inspiration to myself and other students.He knew his stuff and would present his classes in a way you always felt comfortable,no matter if you did not grasp some equations or formulas.His way of teaching was 50/50,he would write on the blackboard and also always try and explain things in practical ways,like having props he would use.
Never was there a time i can remember he spoke negative to the class.He was always encouraging,relaxed and happy, and constantly telling us we could do anything we wanted as long as we put our minds to it.Till this day i still agree with him,as Maths was definately not my strongest subject,i barely passed the subject on my High School Certificate.I could have given up and just sit in the class pretending to be learning but i didn’t,only because of him,his attitude towards the class,his enthusiasm and positive approach to teaching.
I hope i can become the teacher he was,as simple as this might read,the man had special traits which are not easy to come by and not everybody will have,develop or achieve.My hat of to him.
It’s hard to decide on who my favorite teacher is. When I think of all the teachers I’ve had in the past, I liked most of them (No, that doesn’t make me a teacher’s pet). But when the word teacher comes to my mind, the first thing that I think of are my parents.
I love my parents to death. Well, obviously, because they are my parents and I have no other option (Just kidding). They are both smart, my mom is a whiz at math, and my dad is great with science subjects and spanish and english. And with math, too. OK, I think he’s good at everything, and he’s just like a walking encyclopedia. You can ask him basically anything, and he’ll have a ready answer for you.
But that’s not the reason why they are my favorite teachers. It’s beacuse they possess qualities that a good teacher should have: open- mindedness, patience, and the balance between play and authority.
They encourage me in things that I am good at. They recognize my weakness,and accept me for it. They allow me to be laid- back and enjoy life, but at the same time, they correct me everytime I’m wrong. They allow me to grow as an individual,as me.
One teacher I respected in the past was my physics teacher in high school. I liked how he would anticipate the questions we had before we asked them. This way, he was able to give very well phrased answers that were succinct and to the point. He spoke only what was needed to be said rather than go on verbose tangents where I would most likely to lose my focus.
This might not relate to teaching English, considering how different Physics is from English, but I think his teaching style reflects the importance of giving your students time to devour the information they are given and lose the distractions. He may not have challenged my boundaries particularly, but his brevity made me extra alert in his classes since every syllable uttered was necessary for the idea he wanted to convey.
Another attribute he had would be how he encouraged students to ask questions both before class and after school. He would not show any emotion towards what kind of questions you asked or whether he was explaining something so simple. He simply made an effort to answer them in the best way possible. I think this relates to teaching English as a second language because you want your students to understand that they are in a safe learning environment. They will not be judged and all questions are welcomed.
Mr Teton, my economics & politics teacher immediately jumps to mind when I think of favourite teacher over the years. It must have been difficult to catch the attention of a classroom full of young adolescents, full of hormones and other non-academic priorities. Mr Teton was so calm and unassuming yet when he began to talk you naturally wanted to listen. He seemed to reel everybody in by the way he painted the picture of the subject matter at hand, he simply made you want to hear more. His humour was something I remember very well, it was another tool he used to refocus the class if one of the students took us off on another tangent. With sharp wit, he took control of the conversation when needed, without making anyone feel uncomfortable or reprimanded.
His love for his subject was infectious. He knew his stuff, and was able to translate it into engaging material for his students. There is no doubt that it was Mr. Teton who led me to read Politics at university, and taught me the importance of actually enjoying what I was learning.
Over the years, I know of many fellow students who have kept in touch with Mr. Teton, a clear reflection of the fact that he formed strong and lasting relationships with his students. I’m sad to say I myself lost touch with him a while back, but while putting my thoughts about him on paper, I’ve decided it’s time to track him down again. To be continued…
Professor Baumann was an excellent teacher. A philosophical historian, it seemed like B had read everything. He peppered his seminars with all sorts of fascinating anecdotes and stories. He would deliver his wisdom in this low, booming voice. He always tried to bring out the best in his students, and would challenge us to think more critically.
At the heart of his ideology was a cold pragmatism; Baumann was committed towards finding solutions that would be the best for American interests, and cared little about political correctness.
My favorite teacher was a geography teacher, who from the outset set out to make connection, within this she was encouraging, i found my self wanting to do well. The affirmations kept me motivated. eventually i was sailing through the subject.and did very well.
The contrast was a maths teacher who was downright derogatory, and i actually set out separately to achieve what he said i couldn’t .. but just to spite him, hated the classes.
Respond well to encouragement and affirmation .. note to self re my teaching