A "Minus 2 with a Smiley Face" Type of Teacher

      In Rita Pierson's TED talk, she talked about how to be a great teacher, not necessarily a perfect teacher. I appreciated that she "kept it real" and talked about mistakes she had made as a teacher, such as teaching a ratio lesson wrong. One point she made that really stood out to me, was when she talked about one of her students missing 18 out of 20 questions on a quiz. Instead of writing -18 at the top, Ms. Pierson wrote -2 and a smiley face. That really stuck with me. It is so important to remember to build students up while they are learning and not focus so much on what they are doing wrong, but rather what they are doing right. Even I, as an adult, shut down when someone only points out my mistakes instead of my successes. I am more likely to be eager to try again and improve if someone approaches me first with what I am doing right and encourages me to keep working.    

      A teacher is the heartbeat of the classroom. Without the teacher, a classroom is just a room, students are not taught and encouraged to grow, and lives are not changed for the better. Anyone with an education degree can call himself or herself a teacher, however it takes someone special to be a great teacher. Throughout my academic career, I have had many teachers. Some were just there for the paycheck, some were good educators, but did not care to remember their students’ names, and others were more than just teachers, they were great teachers, they became my friend. One teacher in particular that is a great teacher and influenced my decision to pursue elementary education is Melanie Lemon. I was a student in Mrs. Lemon’s third grade class. From the very first day, she made every student feel loved, appreciated, capable, and smart. She made it clear that she wanted to not only educate us, but also be a mentor, a friend, and a listening ear. She focused on the positive. She was a "-2 with a smiley face" teacher. This is the type of teacher I hope to be for my students.

Rita Pierson: Every Kid Needs a Champion