Yellow Jacket Times - Jefferson County Public Schools

10 Ways Teachers Make a Difference
1. Inspiring
Maybe your love of poetry was inspired by your first grade teacher reading Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends.
Or perhaps you became an engineer because of that cool experiment in your fifth-grade science class. So often it is
teachers who provide that initial inspiration that becomes a lifelong passion.
2. Encouraging
As a kid, this blogger never had any trouble with reading but was terrified by math. But with the patient encouragement
of my teachers, I learned to like - and excel at - math all the way through calculus. When students say 'I can't,' teachers
are always there to say 'yes you can.'
3. Motivating
Even for the best of students, there's always a teacher there to remind us to try harder. Putting 110% into everything
you do can help you succeed in all aspects of your life - and, of course, a teacher taught me that.
4. Realizing Student Potential
For some kids, school work just seems to come easily. And while there's undeniably a genetic component to
succeeding in school, a study published recently in Science reminds us that it takes a teacher to help us realize that
potential. Researchers studying twins found that genetics do account for as much as 82% of variability in children's
reading skills. But children who received more effective instruction (from a teacher, of course) were much more likely to
develop at their 'optimal trajectory.' The lesson here? Nature needs a little help from nurture, and teachers are there to
fill that role.
5. Role Modeling
When you ask kids who their role models are, they're likely to name movie stars or famous athletes. But it's really the
teachers they see every day who influence the adults they will become by modeling positive behavior, good choices and
a caring approach to life.
6. Developing Community
A good school often forms the center of a community, where students and their families come together to learn, share
resources and invest in their children. Teachers are the backbone of this community, creating the classroom and
extracurricular experiences around which everything revolves.
7. Leading
As student advocates, teachers play a crucial leadership role both in their schools and in the greater community.
Nobody knows the needs of students better than their teachers, and these professionals lead the way in creating
effective learning environments from the local to the national level.
8. Providing a Safe Haven
We all wish that the world were safer for our kids. But the sad truth is that domestic violence, bullying, peer pressure,
sexual harassment and discrimination are all things that schoolchildren can face everyday. A good teacher can be a
hero for these children. He or she may notice something's wrong, provide a sympathetic ear and help children find safe
and supportive ways to solve their problems.
9. Rebuilding
This year, World Teachers' Day honored the crucial role that teachers play in rebuilding a community after a natural
disaster or economic crisis. UNESCO reminds us that, 'Without teachers input to shape education reforms, recovery
processes are not likely to achieve all their goals.' Whether it's teachers in Haiti working tirelessly in shacks after the
earthquake, or teachers here in the U.S. providing a safety net for families who lost their income in the economic crisis,
teachers around the world are 'recovery's front line.'
10. Fighting Poverty
Education is the most important tool for fighting poverty. Without literacy skills and a basic education, families cannot
overcome social and economic barriers. Every day teachers in impoverished communities fight poverty by giving poor
children access to the education they need - and deserve - to make a better life for themselves.
http://education-portal.com/articles/10_Ways_Teachers_Make_a_Difference.html