Comments on: The First Step is Admitting You Have a Problem http://www.scriptedspontaneity.com/2008/04/the-first-step-is-admitting-you-have-a-problem/ Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:08:08 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: My Resolution? No more failures. « Scripted Spontaneity http://www.scriptedspontaneity.com/2008/04/the-first-step-is-admitting-you-have-a-problem/comment-page-2/#comment-29 My Resolution? No more failures. « Scripted Spontaneity Tue, 13 Jan 2009 08:24:02 +0000 http://scriptspont.wordpress.com/?p=55#comment-29 [...] across the spectrum from an ultra-easygoing “friend to every student” to a “sage on the stage” to where I am today.  As I look at what I teach and how I teach it, I am left feeling [...] [...] across the spectrum from an ultra-easygoing “friend to every student” to a “sage on the stage” to where I am today.  As I look at what I teach and how I teach it, I am left feeling [...]

]]> By: Paul C http://www.scriptedspontaneity.com/2008/04/the-first-step-is-admitting-you-have-a-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Paul C Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:19:01 +0000 http://scriptspont.wordpress.com/?p=55#comment-28 Jose, Thanks for the feedback. I think that it's so critical for new teachers to receive honest evaluations that give them advice about how to improve rather than either "blowing sunshine" or being so negative that we drive the novices from the profession. It sounds like you and I have had some of the same experiences already. Keep in touch, and keep fighting the good fight. Jose,

Thanks for the feedback. I think that it’s so critical for new teachers to receive honest evaluations that give them advice about how to improve rather than either “blowing sunshine” or being so negative that we drive the novices from the profession. It sounds like you and I have had some of the same experiences already.

Keep in touch, and keep fighting the good fight.

]]> By: Jose http://www.scriptedspontaneity.com/2008/04/the-first-step-is-admitting-you-have-a-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Jose Mon, 21 Apr 2008 03:26:03 +0000 http://scriptspont.wordpress.com/?p=55#comment-27 You're saying a whole lot here. I like how you humble yourself to the point where the facades come down and you can take that hard look at yourself. I've often had to do that when everyone says how great of a teacher I am just by my mannerisms. I'm glad that every observation I've done has come out satisfactory, but the need to improve always lingers in the back of my mind, and in that, it seems, we are of kindred spirit. The worst thing to do is to negate all the good that's come out of these discussions. Use that energy to become the teacher that they're talking about. The one that actively engages students, the one who demands more, and has higher expectations while maintaining a human side to yourself. You certainly have more years than I do as a teacher, but I'm learning already how easy it is to get down on yourself as a teacher. Well written. You’re saying a whole lot here. I like how you humble yourself to the point where the facades come down and you can take that hard look at yourself. I’ve often had to do that when everyone says how great of a teacher I am just by my mannerisms. I’m glad that every observation I’ve done has come out satisfactory, but the need to improve always lingers in the back of my mind, and in that, it seems, we are of kindred spirit. The worst thing to do is to negate all the good that’s come out of these discussions. Use that energy to become the teacher that they’re talking about. The one that actively engages students, the one who demands more, and has higher expectations while maintaining a human side to yourself. You certainly have more years than I do as a teacher, but I’m learning already how easy it is to get down on yourself as a teacher. Well written.

]]> By: Cleopatra http://www.scriptedspontaneity.com/2008/04/the-first-step-is-admitting-you-have-a-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Cleopatra Sun, 20 Apr 2008 04:14:54 +0000 http://scriptspont.wordpress.com/?p=55#comment-26 When I first started teaching a mentor told me not to worry about guilty feelings in our job. It just comes with the territory. It is either 'I did not have time to teach .....' or ' I should have .....' or 'If I had .....things would have been better for my students'. We are not perfect. We are only human. We make mistakes, and so do our kids, their parents, and administrators. The fun part of being a teacher is there is always next year. A new group, new ideas, new techniques. We can always improve. When I first started teaching a mentor told me not to worry about guilty feelings in our job. It just comes with the territory. It is either ‘I did not have time to teach …..’ or ‘ I should have …..’ or ‘If I had …..things would have been better for my students’.
We are not perfect. We are only human. We make mistakes, and so do our kids, their parents, and administrators. The fun part of being a teacher is there is always next year. A new group, new ideas, new techniques. We can always improve.

]]> By: Barry Garelick http://www.scriptedspontaneity.com/2008/04/the-first-step-is-admitting-you-have-a-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-25 Barry Garelick Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:01:02 +0000 http://scriptspont.wordpress.com/?p=55#comment-25 The effective teachers who seemingly use discovery are in reality sages on the stage, disguised as guides on the side. Getting the students to come up with insights without proper scaffolding in the space of five minutes and which have taken adults (including the teacher) many years to have acquired is the type of teaching that makes students hate school. The effective teachers who seemingly use discovery are in reality sages on the stage, disguised as guides on the side. Getting the students to come up with insights without proper scaffolding in the space of five minutes and which have taken adults (including the teacher) many years to have acquired is the type of teaching that makes students hate school.

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