A big part of teaching is being emphatic. Maybe I'm right or wrong, but part of my approach was that when I said something, the kids understood exactly what I meant and what I wanted.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
We're not trying to be the only route into teaching. We do put enormous energy into understanding what differentiates the most successful teachers.
Teachers need to feel they are trusted. They must be allowed some leeway to use their imagination; otherwise, teaching loses all sense of wonder and excitement.
When I ask teachers why they teach, they almost always say that it is because they want to make a difference in the lives of children.
At my age, you are naturally inclined towards teaching.
Teaching and writing, to me, is really just seduction; you go to where people are and you find something that they're interested in and you try and use that to convince them that they should be interested in what you have to say.
This is at the heart of all good education, where the teacher asks students to think and engages them in encouraging dialogues, constantly checking for understanding and growth.
I think that the only way to teach is by example, as children will more easily follow what they see you do than what you tell them to do.
I found early on in teaching, if you're too blunt an instrument, the students discredit you and think you're just being mean. They're not interested in what you have to say.
I think the way kids learn most is not by what you say, but by what you do.
I learned that when something just has to be said to move the discussion along, or broaden it or deepen it, if I can just keep my mouth shut for five minutes a student will say it. So for me a lot of teaching is about keeping my mouth shut.