Comments on: August Think-About: Why Did You Become a Teacher? http://avenue4learning.com/2008/08/15/august-think-about-why-did-you-become-a-teacher/ Ideas for Teaching Students in THEIR World... Mon, 07 May 2012 22:47:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Antonio Perez http://avenue4learning.com/2008/08/15/august-think-about-why-did-you-become-a-teacher/comment-page-1/#comment-77 Antonio Perez Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:11:07 +0000 http://avenue4learning.com/?p=51#comment-77 Thank you for posting this video. This reminds me of my father as a teacher. You may like the documentary that was made about my father: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKLK6JtJE_M his blog is at atriskstoriesofhope.com/blogposts Thank you for posting this video. This reminds me of my father as a teacher.

You may like the documentary that was made about my father:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKLK6JtJE_M

his blog is at atriskstoriesofhope.com/blogposts

]]> By: Michelle Baldwin http://avenue4learning.com/2008/08/15/august-think-about-why-did-you-become-a-teacher/comment-page-1/#comment-76 Michelle Baldwin Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:10:45 +0000 http://avenue4learning.com/?p=51#comment-76 Darren: your reasons are very similar to most everyone I know. And anyone who becomes a teacher just for "a job and paycheck" isn't very good at math. ;-) As for June, July, and August-- as a teacher, I never had the summer off. I was always doing extra lessons or taking classes myself. In my current job, I work almost all summer. So you're the lucky one! :-) Darren: your reasons are very similar to most everyone I know. And anyone who becomes a teacher just for “a job and paycheck” isn’t very good at math. ;-)

As for June, July, and August– as a teacher, I never had the summer off. I was always doing extra lessons or taking classes myself. In my current job, I work almost all summer. So you’re the lucky one! :-)

]]> By: Darren Draper http://avenue4learning.com/2008/08/15/august-think-about-why-did-you-become-a-teacher/comment-page-1/#comment-75 Darren Draper Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:58:09 +0000 http://avenue4learning.com/?p=51#comment-75 I became a teacher because: - I wanted to work in a profession that could make a difference in improving society. - I wanted to help people. - I honestly wanted a job that did more than just focused on money. In the end, I think I've found exactly what I was hoping for, and more - June, July, and August have been icing on the cake! :) I became a teacher because:

- I wanted to work in a profession that could make a difference in improving society.

- I wanted to help people.

- I honestly wanted a job that did more than just focused on money.

In the end, I think I’ve found exactly what I was hoping for, and more – June, July, and August have been icing on the cake! :)

]]> By: Josh http://avenue4learning.com/2008/08/15/august-think-about-why-did-you-become-a-teacher/comment-page-1/#comment-74 Josh Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:50:55 +0000 http://avenue4learning.com/?p=51#comment-74 I just got this post in my Google Reader. I had felt bad that I missed it when you emailed me, but I feel better knowing it was FeedBurner and not me. I just got this post in my Google Reader. I had felt bad that I missed it when you emailed me, but I feel better knowing it was FeedBurner and not me.

]]> By: Michelle Baldwin http://avenue4learning.com/2008/08/15/august-think-about-why-did-you-become-a-teacher/comment-page-1/#comment-73 Michelle Baldwin Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:39:27 +0000 http://avenue4learning.com/?p=51#comment-73 Thanks for sharing, Cathy! I wish all my children could have teachers like you! Your enthusiasm and caring means so much to those students... especially middle school! Thanks for your positive outlook! Thanks for sharing, Cathy! I wish all my children could have teachers like you! Your enthusiasm and caring means so much to those students… especially middle school! Thanks for your positive outlook!

]]> By: Cathy Ikeda http://avenue4learning.com/2008/08/15/august-think-about-why-did-you-become-a-teacher/comment-page-1/#comment-72 Cathy Ikeda Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:57:02 +0000 http://avenue4learning.com/?p=51#comment-72 I went into teaching kicking and screaming. See, I come from a family of educators and administrators. I know the sacrifices involved for both the educators and their families. I went to college as a pre-med major, but when I had my first child, I decided I needed to buckle down and decide what I wanted to do for the rest of my life and it wasn't medicine. My shoes ended up at the ed department and I've been teaching for 17 years. I love it! I wake up ready to go to work. I can't wait to laugh and see the students. I've taught my 2 older kids and I'm waiting for my last one. Parents trust me with their most precious treasures, and even if they are middle schoolers with attitude, I take that trust seriously, and I continue to learn so I can be a better teacher for them. Cathy Ikeda Kamehameha Hawaii Middle School reading specialist/literacy coach I went into teaching kicking and screaming. See, I come from a family of educators and administrators. I know the sacrifices involved for both the educators and their families. I went to college as a pre-med major, but when I had my first child, I decided I needed to buckle down and decide what I wanted to do for the rest of my life and it wasn’t medicine. My shoes ended up at the ed department and I’ve been teaching for 17 years. I love it! I wake up ready to go to work. I can’t wait to laugh and see the students. I’ve taught my 2 older kids and I’m waiting for my last one. Parents trust me with their most precious treasures, and even if they are middle schoolers with attitude, I take that trust seriously, and I continue to learn so I can be a better teacher for them.

Cathy Ikeda
Kamehameha Hawaii
Middle School reading specialist/literacy coach

]]> By: Michelle Baldwin http://avenue4learning.com/2008/08/15/august-think-about-why-did-you-become-a-teacher/comment-page-1/#comment-71 Michelle Baldwin Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:25:57 +0000 http://avenue4learning.com/?p=51#comment-71 Josh: perhaps that unfortunate discouragement turned into something positive. I know the people in your district appreciate you! Thanks for your two cents! :-) Deanna: your passion for education shows in everything you do. I know it's contagious, and I'm sure you have a positive impact on all around you. Thanks for your comment! Jen: thank you! I completely agree with the fact that we now have classrooms without walls. I just hope that we can figure out how to get past the control issues and make the school environment the best place for kids to be as they learn and grow. I also agree that we all need hugs, snacks, and naps. :-) Thanks! Larry: First, thank you for taking the time to comment here. I appreciate your perspective so much. I also truly believe that education is the great equalizer, and that we have to do everything in our power to ensure that all students learn. I don't buy into just giving them the "opportunity" to learn-- it's our job to help them get there. Thanks again! Josh: perhaps that unfortunate discouragement turned into something positive. I know the people in your district appreciate you! Thanks for your two cents! :-)

Deanna: your passion for education shows in everything you do. I know it’s contagious, and I’m sure you have a positive impact on all around you. Thanks for your comment!

Jen: thank you! I completely agree with the fact that we now have classrooms without walls. I just hope that we can figure out how to get past the control issues and make the school environment the best place for kids to be as they learn and grow. I also agree that we all need hugs, snacks, and naps. :-) Thanks!

Larry: First, thank you for taking the time to comment here. I appreciate your perspective so much. I also truly believe that education is the great equalizer, and that we have to do everything in our power to ensure that all students learn. I don’t buy into just giving them the “opportunity” to learn– it’s our job to help them get there. Thanks again!

]]> By: Larry Witt http://avenue4learning.com/2008/08/15/august-think-about-why-did-you-become-a-teacher/comment-page-1/#comment-70 Larry Witt Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:44:46 +0000 http://avenue4learning.com/?p=51#comment-70 I have always enjoyed working with people and having what I do make an impact on others. This can be done directly by my actions which improve the life circumstances of others or indirectly by setting up conditions that assist the actions of others as they improve the life conditions of others. Education of our youth is the one action that, in my opinion, has the greatest impact on improving the life conditions of an individual. This can be demonstrated in lifetime earnings of individuals relative to the level of education attained. The last comment I would like to make is that as a teacher a person more significantly impacts fewer indivduals/learners. As an administrator, a person less significantly impacts a greater number of individuals/learners. Thanks for allowing me to share. Larry Witt - Superintendent Gibbon Public Schools I have always enjoyed working with people and having what I do make an impact on others. This can be done directly by my actions which improve the life circumstances of others or indirectly by setting up conditions that assist the actions of others as they improve the life conditions of others.

Education of our youth is the one action that, in my opinion, has the greatest impact on improving the life conditions of an individual. This can be demonstrated in lifetime earnings of individuals relative to the level of education attained.

The last comment I would like to make is that as a teacher a person more significantly impacts fewer indivduals/learners. As an administrator, a person less significantly impacts a greater number of individuals/learners.

Thanks for allowing me to share.

Larry Witt – Superintendent
Gibbon Public Schools

]]> By: JenniferW http://avenue4learning.com/2008/08/15/august-think-about-why-did-you-become-a-teacher/comment-page-1/#comment-68 JenniferW Sat, 23 Aug 2008 15:32:20 +0000 http://avenue4learning.com/?p=51#comment-68 I have never been anything but a teacher -- even when I was a little kid. I have had many different job titles, but in all of them, I was teaching. Whether it was a kid's khoir at church, working with people on their finances, or (right now) being in Tech Support.....I am always sharing ways for others to learn. I think the reason I love teaching is because I love sharing, I like people (most of the time), and there is always something new to know. Plus, I enjoy that with the internet, my classroom has no walls and I am able to share with MANY people. I have taught from Pre-School to adult -- and realize that pretty much they are all the same. They need smiles, hugs, fun ways to learn, encouragement, snacks and naps!! Thanks for the post. Thanks for inviting me to share. Jen I have never been anything but a teacher — even when I was a little kid. I have had many different job titles, but in all of them, I was teaching.

Whether it was a kid’s khoir at church, working with people on their finances, or (right now) being in Tech Support…..I am always sharing ways for others to learn.

I think the reason I love teaching is because I love sharing, I like people (most of the time), and there is always something new to know. Plus, I enjoy that with the internet, my classroom has no walls and I am able to share with MANY people.

I have taught from Pre-School to adult — and realize that pretty much they are all the same. They need smiles, hugs, fun ways to learn, encouragement, snacks and naps!!

Thanks for the post. Thanks for inviting me to share.
Jen

]]> By: Deanna http://avenue4learning.com/2008/08/15/august-think-about-why-did-you-become-a-teacher/comment-page-1/#comment-67 Deanna Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:41:56 +0000 http://avenue4learning.com/?p=51#comment-67 When I went into college, I was in an engineering major and nearly flunking out. Clearly that wasn't for me! I went into education and knew I had really been drawn to it since Kindergarten. I had always loved school and love being in a school environment. Two years ago, I left the classroom and have been doing professional development in technology. Which I have wanted to try since I met my first tech trainer during my first few years of teaching. I love what I do now but still I miss the classroom occasionally. It has gotten better with time however. I hope that I too can influence more teachers to be the best they can be. When I went into college, I was in an engineering major and nearly flunking out. Clearly that wasn’t for me! I went into education and knew I had really been drawn to it since Kindergarten. I had always loved school and love being in a school environment. Two years ago, I left the classroom and have been doing professional development in technology. Which I have wanted to try since I met my first tech trainer during my first few years of teaching. I love what I do now but still I miss the classroom occasionally. It has gotten better with time however. I hope that I too can influence more teachers to be the best they can be.

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