Teaching. From the time I was little, I was always teaching. I would teach my brother while he was trapped in his playpen. I would line up my dolls and play school. I always wanted to teach someone something. It seemed to be who I was.
When I was an adult, I took a survey in my church to determine what gift God had blessed me with, and believe it or not, teaching was one of those gifts.
For some reason, I could always easily break things down and teach it to others. I could find a way to explain it that made sense. I could see their potential and teach to that potential.
However, when my oldest son was in high school, I was disappointed by other’s approach to teaching. I felt that too many students like him were being left out and left behind by teaching methods. Were there other students who learned differently like he did? Why weren’t teachers finding a student’s strengths and using those to the student’s advantage in learning?
I felt there needed to be change. Education at this point was leaning more toward inclusion rather than self-containment. Self-containment was only for the uneducable or those who would not be successful in the classroom. If those students could be taught at their level, using their learning style, then they could be successful. So I entered the teaching field with high hopes.
Over the years I’ve seen many of my students be successful. I’ve encouraged many. I’ve seen successes and lights go on. Although, now I feel disillusioned by it all. Things have changed so much, and there are now many of these students in a classroom rather than a small few that are easily worked with. I know that there is a way. There is always a way. That’s why I’m still teaching.
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