Rita Pierson: Relationships
"I am somebody. I was somebody when I came. I'll be a better somebody when I leave."
Students, never forget this. I truly believe with every fiber of my being that you are a very important person. I believe that we crossed paths because we were meant to learn from each other.
Rita Pierson certainly is a brilliant mind. Her words speak to who we are as teachers. We have the ability to inspire hope where there seems to be none. "Minus 18 sucks all the life out of you. Plus 2 said I ain't all bad." Who else would have said something like this on a 20 question quiz where a student got an F? That was a student's response to Mrs. Pierson's +2 and a big smiley face on a failed math quiz. We have the ability to change a student's perspective simply because we believe in them. We CAN make that difference.
It doesn't strike me as odd that students learn when meaningful relationships are established. It makes perfect sense. "Students don't learn from people they don't like." I'm not asking that all of my students love me and think that I am the greatest that has ever been. I am not the greatest anything that has ever been. I am human and I make mistakes just as often, if not more, than the students that I teach. That is where my teaching is most successful. I am not omnipotent. I am human. I don't want to be perfect, I want my students to have something to relate to. We learn together.
It doesn't strike me as odd that students learn when meaningful relationships are established. It makes perfect sense. "Students don't learn from people they don't like." I'm not asking that all of my students love me and think that I am the greatest that has ever been. I am not the greatest anything that has ever been. I am human and I make mistakes just as often, if not more, than the students that I teach. That is where my teaching is most successful. I am not omnipotent. I am human. I don't want to be perfect, I want my students to have something to relate to. We learn together.
Angela Lee Duckworth: Grit
"In all those very different contexts, one characteristic emerged as a significant predictor of success, and it wasn't social intelligence. It wasn't good looks, physical health, and it wasn't IQ.
It was Grit."
It was Grit."
Students, your success is not determined by a number on a test. It isn't determined by an IQ number. It isn't even determined by who you know. When it comes down to it you will succeed in anything that you are determined to succeed in- you determine your own success.
Angela Lee Duckworth is an interesting speaker. She knows what it is like to be a teacher, a researcher, a psychologist, and a management consultant. If there has ever been a person willing to get down to the nitty-GRITty it is certainly Mrs. Duckworth.
I found myself continually surprised during this talk, as I hope many of you find yourself to be. You don't have to be the smartest, the most attractive, or the most anything actually. You just need to have grit. "Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future day in, day out...and working really hard to make that future a reality." The beautiful thing about grit is that you don't need to compare your grit to someone else's grit. It is a measure of self and personal values. Everyone has grit in different areas- that is why we are all successful in different environments. You are the maker of your own grit.
There is so much more to a student that can be observed than a test score. Each student brings a different talent, a different motivation, and a different work ethic to the table. The beautiful thing is that each of these levels changes for every student when the environment changes. Whoa!
I absolutely love that Mrs. Duckworth finds a new way to explain that student progress and success is not determined by a number. When it comes down to it, the most successful students need not be the ones who are conventionally considered to be the "smartest". There is always hope.
I found myself continually surprised during this talk, as I hope many of you find yourself to be. You don't have to be the smartest, the most attractive, or the most anything actually. You just need to have grit. "Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future day in, day out...and working really hard to make that future a reality." The beautiful thing about grit is that you don't need to compare your grit to someone else's grit. It is a measure of self and personal values. Everyone has grit in different areas- that is why we are all successful in different environments. You are the maker of your own grit.
There is so much more to a student that can be observed than a test score. Each student brings a different talent, a different motivation, and a different work ethic to the table. The beautiful thing is that each of these levels changes for every student when the environment changes. Whoa!
I absolutely love that Mrs. Duckworth finds a new way to explain that student progress and success is not determined by a number. When it comes down to it, the most successful students need not be the ones who are conventionally considered to be the "smartest". There is always hope.
What do we have to learn?
There are many TedTalks out there that explore interests of all sorts. We have so much to learn so long as we are passionate about what we do, what we have, and who we are.
I chose to present both of these talks to you because they show me that there is always something to learn and always someone who can open your eyes. I find that both of these videos prove to the world that success is not a number, but a realization of a dream. Tests do not determine success, people do. Both of the above talks were meant to inspire- to help students of all walks of life. As a teacher, I am constantly on the mission to help all of my students. My students are my pride and joy. I want to know what I can do to be the most effective teacher, role model, and support system. It only makes sense to me to open my eyes and learn from those who truly get it.
I admit to you now, openly, that I am not too proud to declare that I have much to learn. I am not too proud to admit that I mess up. I will always be learning. Every student I have ever had, and will ever have, will teach me something. We are on this journey together.
I don't care who you are, how old you are, or what struggles you are currently facing- there is hope for you. You CAN achieve and succeed. You will always have someone out there cheering for you and holding on to every hope that you will be happy and successful in whatever you choose. I believe in you!
If you need a little inspiration of your own I encourage you to watch a TedTalk of your choosing. Many of these Ted Talks may be found on the TedTalks website, Netflix, Youtube, and floating around on various websites on the internet. If you are as passionate as I am about improving the state of education and helping our students succeed I encourage you to check out the Ted Talks Blog on Education.
I chose to present both of these talks to you because they show me that there is always something to learn and always someone who can open your eyes. I find that both of these videos prove to the world that success is not a number, but a realization of a dream. Tests do not determine success, people do. Both of the above talks were meant to inspire- to help students of all walks of life. As a teacher, I am constantly on the mission to help all of my students. My students are my pride and joy. I want to know what I can do to be the most effective teacher, role model, and support system. It only makes sense to me to open my eyes and learn from those who truly get it.
I admit to you now, openly, that I am not too proud to declare that I have much to learn. I am not too proud to admit that I mess up. I will always be learning. Every student I have ever had, and will ever have, will teach me something. We are on this journey together.
I don't care who you are, how old you are, or what struggles you are currently facing- there is hope for you. You CAN achieve and succeed. You will always have someone out there cheering for you and holding on to every hope that you will be happy and successful in whatever you choose. I believe in you!
If you need a little inspiration of your own I encourage you to watch a TedTalk of your choosing. Many of these Ted Talks may be found on the TedTalks website, Netflix, Youtube, and floating around on various websites on the internet. If you are as passionate as I am about improving the state of education and helping our students succeed I encourage you to check out the Ted Talks Blog on Education.