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A THANK YOU TO ALL GREAT TEACHERS! A TRIBUTE TO THE GREATEST TEACHER IN MY LIFE. WHAT MAKES A TEACHER GREAT?
In the USA we start school on Tuesday Sept 5th, in a couple of weeks. I want to rededicate this blog to a wonderful teacher. I was fortunate as a student because I had many good teachers, but one stands out as one of the most influential in my life. An educator that I still remember now that I am in my 60! She was my ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher in high school, Mrs. Ozelli. I dedicate this blog to her.
Today I am a teacher, a husband and a father. Let me tell you why Mrs. Ozelli was the best teacher I ever had.
Today's teacher is often overwhelmed and overworked. He/she is expected to not only teach academics, but also to be a mentor (an helper, a guide), a mother, a father and a friend. Why? Because many of our children come to school with many social/emotional needs. Some children lack role models, a person who really cares for them. Other children are often neglected- aren't taken care of; are not properly fed (aren't given good healthy/fresh foods), aren't nurtured (loved), aren't supervised (monitored, watched, guided). Often many children do not get enough attention, love and care that they need in order to grow up healthy and strong (in body and mind). These lacking factors make teaching very challenging and often difficult, however, teachers who care do not give up on any of their students!
Today many teachers often fill that void (emptiness) in a child's life; they bring hope and comfort to students- by literally being their emotional mothers/fathers in our school. Caring teachers spend extra time with them; listen to them and help them whenever they can. Caring teachers encourage, motivate, inspire, and direct their students, and also their families adjust to life in a new school/neighborhood and country. Caring teachers often guide their students and their families, so they can get services they need (health care, immigration assistance, clothes, food stamps, etc).
In conclusion, I believe that the greatest teachers are those who teach well, are prepared, but also care for their students!
I remember such a teacher, when I arrived to NY City from Italy I felt lost and confused because I didn't understand the language. My high school ESL teacher, Mrs. Ozelli, at Julia Richman High School in Manhattan, filled that void for me and my sister- the only two Italian students in that school. Mrs. Ozelli spoke to us in Italian when we didn't understand something in English. She helped us adjust to the new American HS. She was ahard worker, since in addition to teaching us English, in a class with at least 30 students, she also took the time/effort to talk to us after class and help us navigate the new school. She often complained of headaches, but she was always present, she really cared! So that students would make progress in English, and do well in the mainstream (regular) classrooms, and be successful in life.
Now that I have been an ESL teacher for 16 years, I still remember her because of her personal interest in me and my sister! I will never forget her because she really loved her students- she really cared! She went over and above her role as a teacher- to me she was like a caring mother, sister and a friend- someone you could count on.
What about me? What kind of teacher am I? I don't want to sound presumptuous (arrogant, stuck up) and tell you that I am a great teacher. I don't think I am- but that doesn't bother me, because, in my opinion, being the greatest is not the most important thing to me. So, I leave that answer to others, especially my students. I can tell you- with certainty- that I love my job because I work hard, I put a lot of effort in it, but I enjoy it because I love learning. Especially reading, writing, making art and create new lessons for my students. The most important factor, for me is the fact that like Mrs. Ozelly, I care for all my students and I try my best to make them succeed in school and in life.
MAY GOD BLESS ALL THE TEACHERS WHO CARE ABOUT THEIR STUDENTS AND THEIR WORK!
In the USA we start school on Tuesday Sept 5th, in a couple of weeks. I want to rededicate this blog to a wonderful teacher. I was fortunate as a student because I had many good teachers, but one stands out as one of the most influential in my life. An educator that I still remember now that I am in my 60! She was my ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher in high school, Mrs. Ozelli. I dedicate this blog to her.
Today I am a teacher, a husband and a father. Let me tell you why Mrs. Ozelli was the best teacher I ever had.
Today's teacher is often overwhelmed and overworked. He/she is expected to not only teach academics, but also to be a mentor (an helper, a guide), a mother, a father and a friend. Why? Because many of our children come to school with many social/emotional needs. Some children lack role models, a person who really cares for them. Other children are often neglected- aren't taken care of; are not properly fed (aren't given good healthy/fresh foods), aren't nurtured (loved), aren't supervised (monitored, watched, guided). Often many children do not get enough attention, love and care that they need in order to grow up healthy and strong (in body and mind). These lacking factors make teaching very challenging and often difficult, however, teachers who care do not give up on any of their students!
Today many teachers often fill that void (emptiness) in a child's life; they bring hope and comfort to students- by literally being their emotional mothers/fathers in our school. Caring teachers spend extra time with them; listen to them and help them whenever they can. Caring teachers encourage, motivate, inspire, and direct their students, and also their families adjust to life in a new school/neighborhood and country. Caring teachers often guide their students and their families, so they can get services they need (health care, immigration assistance, clothes, food stamps, etc).
In conclusion, I believe that the greatest teachers are those who teach well, are prepared, but also care for their students!
I remember such a teacher, when I arrived to NY City from Italy I felt lost and confused because I didn't understand the language. My high school ESL teacher, Mrs. Ozelli, at Julia Richman High School in Manhattan, filled that void for me and my sister- the only two Italian students in that school. Mrs. Ozelli spoke to us in Italian when we didn't understand something in English. She helped us adjust to the new American HS. She was ahard worker, since in addition to teaching us English, in a class with at least 30 students, she also took the time/effort to talk to us after class and help us navigate the new school. She often complained of headaches, but she was always present, she really cared! So that students would make progress in English, and do well in the mainstream (regular) classrooms, and be successful in life.
Now that I have been an ESL teacher for 16 years, I still remember her because of her personal interest in me and my sister! I will never forget her because she really loved her students- she really cared! She went over and above her role as a teacher- to me she was like a caring mother, sister and a friend- someone you could count on.
What about me? What kind of teacher am I? I don't want to sound presumptuous (arrogant, stuck up) and tell you that I am a great teacher. I don't think I am- but that doesn't bother me, because, in my opinion, being the greatest is not the most important thing to me. So, I leave that answer to others, especially my students. I can tell you- with certainty- that I love my job because I work hard, I put a lot of effort in it, but I enjoy it because I love learning. Especially reading, writing, making art and create new lessons for my students. The most important factor, for me is the fact that like Mrs. Ozelly, I care for all my students and I try my best to make them succeed in school and in life.
MAY GOD BLESS ALL THE TEACHERS WHO CARE ABOUT THEIR STUDENTS AND THEIR WORK!
SOME USEFUL PEDAGOGICAL (TEACHING) THINGS/METHODS/STRATEGIES FOR TEACHERS
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