more week 2

"Teaching" Defined?

In our class discussions and posts, we all seem to be in agreement: The best teachers are the ones with passion and enthusiasm.

One of my best teachers was a college professor whose class was entirely lecture. Granted, it was within my major, so I already had an interest and choice in taking this class. This guy was amazing, though. The class was in a large lecture hall with dim lights. Professor Mead would sweep in with his suit and bow tie (always a bow tie!), and start lecturing to a slideshow of images. He would lecture for the whole class period, constantly moving, rapidly pacing back and forth with the steady heel clicking of his polished dress shoes. He was always so engaged in describing the images projected on the wall (the class was History of Architecture), that I think he regularly forgot all about the packed rows of students watching with awe. He was somewhere else, his mind firmly planted back in time; in Ancient Greece, in Egypt, in Mexico. I have never experienced such a fascinating speaker; he would suck you into his world like a great movie that can keep you entertained for hours. However, while Professor Mead was incredibly passionate about his topic, he was also very impersonal and unapproachable. He was kind of scary; he was so brilliant in his element, it was intimidating. For a college class, that is okay. For high school, though there is more to education than just the dissemination of information.

Another great teacher that stands out in my mind is my 10th grade biology teacher, Mrs. Catron. She fit into  what I picture as the classic stereotype of  old fashioned one-room schoolhouse teacher; motherly, graying hair and glasses, sweet and loving to all students. It wasn't a topic I was particularly interested in, but I LOVED that class!  I was comfortable there, and she inspired me to learn. She always encouraged her students, and we all felt safe and happy. In her class, I was relaxed and receptive to new material. As a result, I found the subject interesting and fun. I signed up for the class because I had to, but I ended up discovering a new interest in a subject that I didn't think I would like.

I think the best kind of teacher should have qualities of both teachers. Professor Mead had a passion for the subject, and Mrs. Catron had a passion for teaching itself.  My goal is to evolve into a teacher who can provide both for my students.