Skip to main content

What Kind of Teacher Am I?

 What Kind of Teacher Am I?

 

    There are many different "types" of teachers- holistic, traditional, linear, laid back, or critical theorist. I was recently tasked with defining my own type, but I don't think I fit into just one. I believe I am a blend of a critical theorist- a teacher that encourages discussion about social issues, inequality, sometimes plays devil's advocate to help students think from a different perspective- and a traditionalist- a teacher that likes order, structure and is not afraid of enforcing discipline. My students know my rules and boundaries from day one. They know the repercussions of not following rules and expectations. But they also know I'm not a hard-ass. I understand that they are middle school kids, that they are not mature and that they will do and say dumb things without thinking. I have firm boundaries, and my students learn quickly to respect them.

    I teach 6th and 7th grade social studies/geography and I often encourage my students to think outside of the bubble they live in. I love introducing them to places, cultures, and events they’ve never heard of and watching their thinking shift from “That’s so weird” to “That’s so interesting!”  II teach core historical and social concepts, which aligns with a traditionalist approach, but I also encourage the students to think about who recorded this history? what was that person's perspective? How race, gender, oppression have shaped history and where we are today. That's the critical theorist in me.

    When it comes to geography, I expect my students to master the basics—especially mapping skills—because without that foundation, it’s difficult for them to think spatially. In this area, I take more of a traditionalist stance.  I follow a traditionalist role when it comes to mapping skills and the basics of geography. Once they have mastered that I shift into a more critical theorist approach- encouraging them to question things (just not me! kidding!😜), to ask why, and to develop their own perspective.  I want them to see the bigger picture, to gain curiosity about the world and to develop a desire to go see it-experience it-learn it.

    In summary, I see myself as a mix of two types of teachers: one who loves organization, structure and has clear rules, and another who encourages students to think about social issues and different viewpoints. In both my 6th and 7th grade classes, I focus on making sure students master the basics, like mapping skills, but I also encourage them to question history and think about how certain things have shaped our world. I want my classroom to be a place where students feel supported by clear expectations while also growing curious and thinking critically about the world around them.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

U.S.A. vs. Finland: An Education Battle

    U.S.A. vs. Finland: An Education Battle    It is not uncommon knowledge that Finland's students out-perform American students. The United States focuses on strict curriculum and standardized tests, while Finland does not do standardized tests (Colagrossi, 2018). Teachers in Finland have more freedom to teach without the pressure of covering specific test content.  many American students are taught to quickly memorize information just to pass a test—only to forget it soon after—rather than developing a deep, lasting understanding of the material.       Teacher qualifications are also more rigorous in Finland, where educators are required to hold a master’s degree (Colagrossi, 2018).  If the USA were to follow these standards, it could potentially reduce teacher turnover, and there would fewer people going into education just to coach and have summer's off (no offense to coaches! I am one!). This approach ...
Post a Comment
Read more

UDL- Week 5

       The article "Professional Development with Universal Design for Learning: Supporting Teachers as Learners to Increase the Implementation of UDL" by Stephanie L. Craig, Sean J. Smith, and Bruce B. Frey (2022) discusses the results of how professional development, focused on the implementation of UDL, has a positive effect on the teacher and the teacher’s students. UDL is an educational framework aimed at improving teaching and implementing accommodations for the learning process of all students. The article discusses how there are increasing numbers of ESL students and SPED students (or IEP students) resulting in teachers having to teach many different “types” of students in one class. Having professional development available to teach different ways to accommodate these students, or adapt their lesson plans to fit specific needs increases the teacher’s ability to reach each student. “ The consensus among researchers offers that seven critical elements need to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Naturalistic or Technological Approach

 N aturalistic or Technological Approach?   I identify more with a naturalistic approach when it comes to teaching and building my lesson plans. I value having flexibility built into my plans because, as any teacher knows, things rarely go exactly as expected. As a middle school teacher, I often have to adjust my day-to-day plans based on the unique needs and energy of each class. The naturalistic approach aligns with how teachers actually plan: balancing objectives and standards with the ability to pivot when necessary. While my lesson-plans are focused on objectives and standards, I believe the content I teach would be dull and forgettable without space for engaging activities, supplementary objectives, and hands-on experiences that help students truly connect with the material. As a middle school social studies teacher, I don’t really see myself adopting a dual approach in curriculum design and instructional delivery. I find that the naturalistic approach fits best with...
Post a Comment
Read more