We all feel called to do something important in our lives. We are called at various times in our lives to accomplish our goals. We often think of this call as being compelled to accomplish something. This calling may not always come when you want it to but it comes when you need it to. I felt my calling when I was very young, however, it was not my time to become an educator. I felt this calling again when I was 27 years old and seeking a change I didn’t know I needed. Within the world of education, you must have patience and understanding, and you have to feel that you can make a difference in more ways than one. Walking past my school every day on my daily walk, I felt something good, and happiness struck me remembering my own education and how I was able to go to a school with caring teachers who loved their jobs. I wanted to be that for kids. I wanted to be the teacher that my students could rely on to listen and guide them on their path as my teachers had done for me. I do believe that fate has something to do with your calling. When I felt a the calling to become a teacher, I was being called to be someone for these kids at a time when they were struggling.
As teachers, it is important to build relationships with your students. When building relationships you want to have a good report with both parents and students. We as teachers need to recognizes our students and their differences and vulnerabilities. Are students are growing into their own persons. It is our job to not mold them, but give them guidance and advise them on what makes our students who they are. Helping students find their identities in society by achieving goals socially and academically. Our students are impressionable, we need to be responsible educators and voice not our opinions but the ways to be a good person in society. Making connections and having empathy with students helps them to learn and develop their own social emotional understanding of the world. As teachers, we are the ones who represent something more to our students, leading by example helps them to improve their own well being and teaches them responsibility and respect. Showing our peers and colleagues respect throughout our learning day helps students see how situations should be handled. It is also important to show organization and preparation. These are tools that students see and learn by.
Making yourself someone who you and your students are proud of helps develop a communication with your students. It is also important to show that you as an educator are human and mistakes happen. My biggest take away that I have learned as an educator is to never just tell a student they can or cannot do something. I think its important to stop and make learning opportunities from our mistakes. Our mistakes help us learn and become better people. Sharing experiences with students help them to learn that they are not alone and allows all the students to understand that somethings are really hard and thats ok. I find that as I grew up I never heard enough of the why. I believe that we need to not only teach our students right and wrong but explain the why, so their is a common understanding between teacher, student and reaching life long goals.
Educators are the ones who set the motion for the love of learning. It starts in the beginning on the first day of school. This is an understanding at every grade level. As educators we need to make sure that we set the tone for the year of being warm and inviting while teaching the students about learning. There are often times where we need to help a student find the best way that they can learn. All students are gifted with the opportunity to learn, but some students face the struggle of finding the right way for them to learn. Creating an inviting and creative learning environment, helps students gain the tools they need to succeed. As educators we know that the way a student learns can make or break their confidence in learning if not addressed or communicated in the most effective and thoughtful way. Teachers need to have a variety of “tools” to help students learn. We have not only gained knowledge of how and what to teach but we have learned from our peers on a variety of methods to engage student learning. Like our students we need to apply a diverse learning environment for our students and capture their interests. When doing this, we help students find a path for learning that they can carry with them as they travel through their education experiences.
When called to the field of education, we need to remember our purpose and our role. We need to remember that this is a profession of honor and devotion. Our work extends beyond the academia. We let our students know that we are here to help them grow socially and academically while being someone they can rely on. Students should feel comfortable to discuss and reach out about their lives; past, present, and future. We need to help students find their purpose. We have found ours, as educators, now it is our turn to help our students turn the pages of their life in a positive direction. Guiding students growth and development is important for any student as they learn. Educators help all students reach their goals. We need to help our excelling students excel further and keep them going while challenging them to think. We need to also think of the strugglers, look out for them and help them find their way while hitting their goals. We must not forget about the middle students, who need challenges and to be nurtured. Theses are the tools that make up a good teacher, the tools we use to grow ourselves as educators to be used to help our students grow.
Why is becoming an educator a fulfilling career? We must look at our position from various points. What is it I am here to do, is it just to teach a student math problems and how to read? We need to remember that our jobs go beyond the books, our job is to be a supporter, to be an ear, as well as a guide. Helping students find their way, as I have found mine. If I didn't walk past my school everyday for a month, would I have gone back to education? We all have questions on why we are where we are, but when we remember the journey and the outcome and see our students faces, we remember the joy that learning brings. Our paths are all different, just like our students. Believing in our students and their smallest accomplishments is what impacts a students life. The smallest thing in a students life may be the biggest to them. I believe in celebrating our students and believing in their calling, as we believe that this is ours. It is important to grow with your students and understand their cultures, beliefs and individualities. Having diverse goals for students helps them to be confident and grow, and that is what we are here to do. Be the impactful change for a student, and showing them that they belong there.