This question goes out to any teacher?

As adults we are not really in a competition. Schools tend to rank kids. I don’t rank my adult friends. We as adults are teachers, lawyers, accountants and fire fighters. So as a teacher, my attitude with all my students is that this is their figuring it all out stage of their life. Everyone has their strengths. While I personally did not have to work hard at all in math, English class was my difficulty.

So when i have a student frustrated in my own math class, I simply know that this student needs some extra help or extra time.

I sincerely do believe that everyone has potential.

All students have potential…. but not the same potential. Some have the potential to become world class athletes or balket dancers or maybe their potential is to help at a homelesss shelter or be a helicopter pilot. The teacher’s job is to help the student realize that potential and to never give up on a dream. And sure… some students have to work much harder than others just to post a ” C”… but if the work ethic is there, that student can never be a failure. It’s not all about the grade book.

I feel all students can learn. It is the teacher’s job to make sure every student can reach their full potential. Every person has thier own strengths and weaknesses. Some people have to work harder in Math than English. It may take a little longer but everyone can suceed if they try.

All kids have potential to learn, but they won’t all grasp the same amount of information.

Think of it this way: some kids have the potential to become chemists because science and math come easy for them, but writing might be their nemesis. Some kids have the potential to write novels, but will never be able to accurately balance a check book.

Everyone has their own talents that guide their learning. Unfortunately, schools have gone away from vocational education as well as, art and music programs. There is nothing wrong with a kid that paints houses for a living or fixes cars for a living. Without these people our society wouldn’t function. Somewhere along the way we have lost sight of this. College is not right for everyone.

I firmly believe that Effort = Success.

Success is when my student sets and achieves a goal.

They all have “potential” to reach their goals, but they are not going to all have the same goals.

Make sense?

I’ve had some real lazypantses, whose big goal might be that they come to class consistently, and come reasonably prepared. It’s a miracle. We celebrate.

Then I have students who I know are destined to be rocket scientists. Their big goal is to maintain their 4.0. They do, and it’s a miracle. We celebrate.

Either way, if they’ve shown some effort, some progress, it’s good.

Not everyone is going to be a rocket scientist, and someone does have to flip the burgers. It’s up to YOU, what you’d rather do. Choose your goals, and live up to your “potential.” *shrug*

I truly believe that all students have the potential to do THEIR best. Some just have more to overcome in order to do that.