EDU 550
Section Two
The Power of the Mission
Discussion
Q1: When I entered teaching, it seemed like a natural progression from what I was doing for the first two years of my life after college. I was a college counselor for two years after I graduated and I really liked what I was doing. The only problem was I did not feel I had the connection that I wanted with students because I did not meet with them on a regular basis.
During the summer months, I worked as a residential counselor for an academic program. It was then that I realized that I wanted to spend more time with a group of students because I thought I would be able to inspire them more by being with them on a day to day basis.
As far as accomplishments, I did not have any concrete ideas other than wanting to be a positive influence in young people’s lives.
I had no concrete goals starting out as a teacher, other than always wanting to do a good job and always be there for students. Whether it is smart not to have goals, I can not say because I have been fortunate that the directions I have chosen in my life have more than worked out for me. I have always felt that I should work as hard as possible for the people I work. I do believe as a teacher that I should find out the goals of the students I teach and work towards their goals. I normally do not have a big plan for myself other than to enjoy what I am doing and always work hard at it.
All of this we found ironic. My colleagues and I concluded that most of us are trying to accomplish the goal of becoming teachers that we never seriously thought about what we wanted to accomplish once we become teachers. Is that human nature? Are our goals and accomplishments selfish acts?
The teachers in the video seemed so much more focused and focused about their goals. We wondered whether it was because they were all much more experienced (or seemed to be) or were they always like that?
Q2: I have completed everything I have set out to do and have never quit anything. I have not been the best at everything I have set out to do. I get frustrated with myself because I underachieved as a young person, but I do not dwell on that fact other than my life now is about trying to make up for the underachieving.
When I think about that in terms of being a teacher, I wonder again if I (or many of us) are so focused on our goals that we are not thinking in terms of the “real” things that matter. It may be a cliché now, but life is a journey, not a race. When we reach a goal, life does not end there. Unfortunately, I realized with my co-workers that prior to my goal of becoming a teacher I did not think beyond that.
Study Team Activity – Part 1
My goal as a teacher so far has been to provide students with whatever academic and social support that they may need. Whenever students ask me if I have time to answer their questions outside of class, my response is that “I always have time for students.” I hope that students will always remember that about me and that they will say that I was able to teach them effectively and explain lessons in a straightforward and understandable manner. But more than being a teacher I hope I will be worthy enough for someone to one day say that the school I retire from will be missing something because I will not be there.
The common themes my colleagues and I shared were that teaching is more than being in a classroom and lecturing thirty plus students. All of us agreed that we hope the human side of our personalities will be remembered more than anything else. Another common theme was as I mentioned above, being remembered as doing whatever we can to make time for our students.
We agreed that most teacher’s goals are as we mentioned above. We may disagree on the theoretical ideas of teaching, but we want our students to remember us as being human as well.
Study Team Activity – Part 2
We chose Joyce Schneider and the key elements to her mission were, “Yes, I can!” and to make sure each child can do whatever he/she wants to do.
She also wants to inspire, motivate, and give a portion of herself to each child.
Application Assignment – Part 1
2 / AA1: Mission Statement
My mission is to go into each day of classes and exude an energy that students will look forward to each and every day. Whether my students are motivated academically or not, I want them to make them feel that school is a place where they can feel safe, enjoy themselves, but at the same time I would like to be their most academically and intellectually challenging teacher.
My mission includes motivating students to believe that though it will not be easy, they will be able to achieve any goal they set their sights on.
My mission is to encourage students to go out and see as much of the world as possible and to learn that the part of the world they are living in is NOT the center of the universe. I will have high expectations of my students, but will always be approachable for whatever problems they might have.
Application Assignment – Part 2
2 / AA: Letter to Parents
Dear Parents:
My name is Jon Garcia and I will be your child’s English teacher this year. I wanted to take the time to introduce myself before the start of the year and give you some personal and professional information about myself.
I received my B.A. in Speech Communication from St. Cloud State University and my M.S. from the University of New England. This is my first year in this school district. I recently returned to the United States after teaching in Tokyo, Japan for the last ten years.
I live in the community as I feel it gives me a better feel of who my students are and I hope to run into students and parents while being an everyday citizen. I hope to demystify the feelings most of us feel when we see our teachers out shopping.
I would like you to know that you can reach me at the phone numbers or E-mail address below if you have any concerns about the school, my class, or your child’s progress at school. I make myself available at any time for students and parents.
I want you to know that you I am willing to give you any information I may have for your child to achieve their goals. If I do not have that information I will obtain it for you.
I am really excited about the upcoming school year and look forward to hearing any comments or concerns you may have. I will be contacting you on a regular basis to give you progress reports and hope that you will be involved and support your child and I in the upcoming school year.
Sincerely,
Jon Garcia
(xxx)xxx-xxxx
abc@defghi.com