Looking Back

Published 2013 Novato Advance.
Since the publishing, I have earned and Masters in Education, and also become a yoga teacher!
Namaste spread love

As some of you know I am in the mist of the training program at Dominican University to earn my credentials to become a teacher. As my first semester draws to the end I have been reflecting on the past few months. The work has been tough, fun, lots of reading and research, many days observing young teachers new to the profession as well as many veterans like Libby Silvestri whom I wrote about a few weeks ago. During this reflection time I wonder 2 things first if I still want to be and teacher in a classroom, and second if so can I do the job well? As Dr. Juan Carlos Arauz the professor that leads my Education and Culture course tells me “Teaching is an Art”. If I am to become an artic in a classroom I want to create master pieces that would be students that look forward to being in my class and learning.
After watching first hand all the different elements a professional educator has to deal with my respect for each and every one of them has doubled! Well those of you that are working to help your students become learners.
During the Holiday break I will make my decision about teaching in the classroom. I hope during the break you wonderful people that are guiding our children Monday to Friday and some of you on the weekend in the public and private school through out Marin will be rejuvenated with the time off and go back next term ready to turn on learning for all your students.
You educators have so much influence with you kids (or in the case of us College and Graduate students grownups) I would like to share with you something Rebecca Stewart read to us her English Development students.

The Power of a Teacher
“I’ve come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It is my personal approach that creates the climate, my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess tremendous power to make a student’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate, humor, hurt, or heal. But in all situations it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a student humanized or de-humanized.”
Dr. Haim Ginott, Teacher and Child, 1972
I want your share that for a several reason but the main one is because last week my son was having one of those hard days, you know what I am talking about we all have them. I went to school and got him after our talk I just know if some adult had said something positive or upbeat to my son that could have turned had morning around.
We are the grownup, we Dads and Moms, we Teachers and Principles, we Aunts and Uncles, we Friends, we can help kids have better days!
For recipes and or to post comments visit my site www.curtisaikens.com
Peace Happy Holidays