Training Students to Write Resolutions for Student Congress Debate
U.S. Embassy Conference Room
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan June 2007
Ecclesiastes 12:9 NIV
"Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs."
I trudged, head down, into my senior English class silently celebrating the last English class I would take in high school.
I’d struggled since 6th grade with English. My grades hovered between Cs and As with an occasional F. My teachers didn’t explain what I was doing wrong, so I never improved, and my attitude soured.
I slouched down in a desk, where I could disappear for 18 weeks and get my C.
Ms. Becky Richards walked into her classroom with the energy level of a college cheerleader. I sat up straighter and paid attention as she spoke. Who is this person? She's different from my other teachers. I decided to give her a chance.
We read stories and wrote everyday in journals. She would correspond with me through notes in my journals. She was funny and laughed with me as I wrote jokes. I began to believe in my ability to write and gained confidence as she complimented my writing style.
She explained how to fix simple errors I made in grammar. Errors that could have been corrected sooner, if teachers had taught me.
One day, my friends and I were discussing career plans. I preached about the lack of good teachers like Ms. Richards. As a result of bad teachers, I had carried a negative attitude toward English. Now I love it! We need more teachers like---
Then I heard the implication of my words. If the world is going to change, it should start with me. The one to become a teacher was the student who had been inspired by Ms. Richards.
I had to rise to the challenge of working with students who had also been injured by poor teachers.
If I could learn how to teach, I was certain I could reach them. After all, look what Ms. Richards did to change my attitude, communication skills, and life.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Dear Lord, thank you for positive teachers in life.
"Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs."
I trudged, head down, into my senior English class silently celebrating the last English class I would take in high school.
I’d struggled since 6th grade with English. My grades hovered between Cs and As with an occasional F. My teachers didn’t explain what I was doing wrong, so I never improved, and my attitude soured.
I slouched down in a desk, where I could disappear for 18 weeks and get my C.
Ms. Becky Richards walked into her classroom with the energy level of a college cheerleader. I sat up straighter and paid attention as she spoke. Who is this person? She's different from my other teachers. I decided to give her a chance.
We read stories and wrote everyday in journals. She would correspond with me through notes in my journals. She was funny and laughed with me as I wrote jokes. I began to believe in my ability to write and gained confidence as she complimented my writing style.
She explained how to fix simple errors I made in grammar. Errors that could have been corrected sooner, if teachers had taught me.
One day, my friends and I were discussing career plans. I preached about the lack of good teachers like Ms. Richards. As a result of bad teachers, I had carried a negative attitude toward English. Now I love it! We need more teachers like---
Then I heard the implication of my words. If the world is going to change, it should start with me. The one to become a teacher was the student who had been inspired by Ms. Richards.
I had to rise to the challenge of working with students who had also been injured by poor teachers.
If I could learn how to teach, I was certain I could reach them. After all, look what Ms. Richards did to change my attitude, communication skills, and life.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Dear Lord, thank you for positive teachers in life.
No comments:
Post a Comment