Many of my clients tell me I need to work for the Department of Education to encourage people to become teachers. Since I am so passionate about my teaching and I think it is the best job ever, they think I can convince any person, even those who do not like children, to shift to education.
I have my doubts about convincing any person, but I am sure that being an educator is the best job ever.
When I work with my clients on Needs and we get to the stage where they understand the need to make a difference in the world, I understand again why a teacher fulfills this need every time he or she goes to work.
Unfortunately, many people think that teachers are a conduit of knowledge. They take knowledge from one side, chew it and hand it to the students in an easy way. Teachers, on the other hand, see their work in a more purposeful way. To them, teaching is a facilitation of change. Teachers are there to help their students grow and evolve. They are there to help their students design their identity by learning.
For a teacher, teaching another grammar point or another math concept is nowhere near the excitement and fulfilment of teaching to develop a positive attitude or good habits. You see, it is hard to make a difference in the world by teaching multiplication, but easy by teaching ways to learn. It is hard to make a difference by teaching to read, but easy when the reading is about friendship. For teachers, knowledge is only a tool to teach attitude.
We learn math not to be able to go to the supermarket, but to be able to stimulate our thinking. We learn to read not to be able to sign a document but to be able to read about love, excitement, motivation and characters. We learn science not to be able to get great grades but to appreciate the world around us.
Teachers have that in mind every time they get up in the morning and pack their lunch to go to work. Their students’ well-being and education is far more important to them than the grades on their report card.
I am not my kids’ teacher at school and I told them from the first day they went to school, “I wish you a teacher that recognizes his or her profession as a mission. I wish you a teacher who will help you carve who you are and will stay in your memory as someone who meant a lot to you and was there to love you and help you be the person you wanted to be”.
I consider myself lucky, because I have been touched by many teachers, especially when I studied special education. The years when I was deeply inspired by those who define edcuation as a tool to change the world.
Remember that your child’s education is much more than the grades on his or her report card and look for those teachers who are there with the vision of touching your child forever.
By: Ronit Baras
Posts Tagged ‘Educator’
To Teach is to Touch a Life Forever
January 29th, 20106 Parenting Tips To Help You Assertively Participate In Your Child’s IEP
December 30th, 2009
Are you the parent of a child with a disability in special education,
who would like parenting tips on how to be an equal participant
in your child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) development? Are
you afraid to give your opinion, because you are not a professional?
Then this article is for you; learn 6 easy to use tips that will help
you assertively participate in the process, for the good of your
child.
Tip 1: Ask a lot of questions. The process can be overwhelming;
The IEP meeting usually has 5-10 disability educators plus the
parents. Ask questions whenever you need to, so that you can
understand what is being said, by school personnel.
Tip 2: Ask the disability educator to slow down, and explain
something that you do not understand. Sometimes school personnel
speak very fast, and do not stop to explain what they are
talking about. This is especially true, when they are giving parents
results of a psychological evaluation. You should ask them to show
you the results of the tests and explain what the scores mean.
Tip 3: Bring a written list of items that you would like to discuss at
the meeting; it can be hand written or typed. Check off each item
as it is discussed. Leave space at the bottom of the list to handwrite
any new issues that come up at the meeting.
Tip 4: Consider bringing a parent input statement to your child’s IEP
meeting. A parent input statement is a one page document that states
what you believe your child’s needs are, and what special education
services your child needs. It should be typed, if possible, and ask
that it be attached to your child’s IEP.
Tip 5: Use the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to
support your position. Peter and Pam Wright have written several
books including Special Education Law; second addition. This book is
easy to read, and use as a reference at any school meetings.The book
can be purchased at http://www.wrightslaw.com.
Tip 6: Read the IEP document before you leave the meeting. What was
said at the meeting is not important, what is important is what is
written in the document. Make sure that any important discussions
about your child are included in the meeting notes, and that all
educational services promised are listed.
With these 6 tips, you are well on your way to learning to assertively
participate in your child’s IEP meeting. You know your child better
than school personnel, so you have a lot of valuable
information to share with the team. Good luck in your advocacy
journey!
By: JoAnn Collins
Always in High Demand – The Educator
December 30th, 2009
Aristotle said, “All who have meditated on the art of governing mankind have been convinced that the fate of empires depends on the education of youth.” Education touches on every aspect of human life-and those providing that education continue to be in high demand. Teachers make the world a better place for everyone.
But not only is the field of education one that has great value-it is also a field where plenty of job opportunities exist for those interested in becoming educators. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 2.8 million teachers are employed in the United States, not to mention more than 200,000 administrative staff members.
Because the field of education is so incredibly diverse, demand varies for different positions. In large urban areas, job openings may be quite numerous, thanks to expanding populations. Suburban areas continue to see rapid growth and expansion as well. In more rural areas, however, there may be less turnover so there are fewer openings for teachers and others in the educational field. But wherever you are, the next few years will hold solid prospects for everyone in education as many “baby boomers” are nearing retirement age-leaving many open positions.
Hot Jobs In Education
Besides your average kindergarten through grade 12 teachers, there are many additional job prospects within specific teaching fields and related areas. Here is a look at some of the hottest areas in education today.
• Bilingual teachers. As a nation, the United States continues to grow more diverse, presenting challenges for those educating students who don’t speak English as their native language. Therefore demand is rapidly increasing for teachers who can teach in two languages. Not only are teachers needed to teach English itself, but teachers that can conduct a class in two languages are also desperately needed. Teaching a course in two languages allows students the opportunity to both improve their English skills while better grasping the subject matter in their native language. This means teachers need to be fully adept in more than one language. Teachers who are bilingual may have an inside track on job openings, especially in districts with large immigrant populations. Once employed, they often face stimulating and challenging work as they help students from other cultures make the most of their educational experience.
• Special education teachers. Thanks to general population growth, enhanced testing programs, and legal requirements for meeting the needs of students with special needs, Special Education teachers are badly needed. In addition, the challenges of working with students in this group, which may include those with physical, perceptual, developmental, or emotional problems, make it less popular than many other teaching areas. If you have the patience to work with students who need the extra help provided by special education faculty, you might find this the perfect opportunity for you. In many states, the need for special education teachers is so great that school districts are hiring candidates who are not yet certified in special education, and then paying for the classes they need for full certification. For those eager to break into education or to switch over from other occupations, this can be a good way to start.
• Math and science teachers. Teachers of math and science are among the most sought-after educators today. Some specialize in one field, such as chemistry or biology; others focus on math. Still others, especially at the lower grade levels, teach more than one subject. Teachers in this area focus heavily on the content of their respective disciplines. Since their fields are often considered among the most difficult subjects offered, they face special challenges in presenting the subject to students. Many school districts can’t find enough qualified math and science teachers because fewer college students major in these disciplines, and of those who do, most take jobs in industry or go on to graduate school. So the demand for math and science teachers is very, very high.
• Educational administrators. Teachers are the heart of any school system, but other educators are also important. Among them are principals, assistant principals, superintendents, and other administrators. They provide leadership for schools and other educational organizations. Administrators hire teachers and other staff, manage budgets, and oversee the day-to-day operation of schools or school districts. They also help develop new programs, evaluate the success of existing operations, and make plans for the future.
Whatever you choose, you’ll find that as a graduate of an Education program, you will always be in high demand. Opportunities abound!
By: Cecily Kellogg
