Best Speaker Ever

"Teaching is the profession that makes all other professions possible."



Normally I don't look too forward to in service days that consist of sitting in bleachers/chairs for multiple hours and watching the minute hand sloooowly tick. Today, however, was different. Our county institute day was held at Mt. Zion Intermediate for all Mt. Zion & Meridian teachers/staff from 8:00 - noon. Todd Whitaker was the guest speaker and presented about "What Great Teachers Do Differently." He was absolutely fantastic and very inspirational to all of the teachers & principals I have talked to about his presentation today. He not only has a very strong outlook on what a great teacher should be, but has great stories and is quite the comedian. He is an author of several books,if anyone in the educational field (or just for fun!) is looking for some good reads. He has written The 4 CORE Factors for School Success, Seven Simple Secrets: What the Best Teachers Know and Do!, Dealing With Difficult Parents(And With Parents in Difficult Situations), Dealing With Difficult Teachers 1, Dealing With Difficult Teachers 2, Feeling Great! The Educator's Guide for Eating Better, Exercising Smarter, and Feeling Your Best, Great Quotes for Great Educators, Motivating & Inspiring Teachers, Six Types of Teachers, Teaching Matters, What Great Principals Do Differently, What Great Teachers Do Differently, and What Current Research Says to the Middle Level Practitioner.

Before I started this blog I ordered What Great Teachers Do Differently. I think it will be a great book to read and then to have on a shelf to re-read when things get a little stressful. Isn't it funny that I just posted about me being stressed with ISAT? This speaker could not have come at a better time. I feel like I needed to hear that other people have struggles like I do on a daily basis, BUT that I need to choose to be the GREAT teacher instead of the mediocre.

One of his key points was to "Raise the Praise, Minimize the Criticize." Not only should teachers live this but people in general should keep this in mind. It seems like everyone is so negative these days. I can't help but think about watching Alex's freshmen basketball games when I think of "Raise the Praise, Minimize the Criticize." Someone is ALWAYS being criticized and they are ONLY 15 years old. It's horrible when a grown adult is hollering at a young man in front of all his peers that he is an embarassment to the team. Is that really going to make the athlete play better? I know it sure wouldn't be a motivation for me to get my butt in gear! Coaches and teachers (and adults) have to remember that kids WANT to please. But how can they please if they are never taught?



I can't even describe how I felt after leaving the institute. I really felt proud to be a teacher. Todd said it perfectly. Teachers have the most difficult job ever. We are teaching the future. But WE chose to become teachers and we have to work hard to be the absolute very best teachers. As I get ready to head to my administration class tonight and learn about School Law, I will be thinking about how I can take the extra step to be the GREAT teacher and do things differently.



Todd Whitaker's Quote of the Month:

"In a great teacher's classroom, every students feels like the favorite."



http://www.toddwhitaker.com/