Wednesday, August 28, 2013

The Teacher That Opened My Eyes

Thanks to Participant Media for sponsoring today's discussion.

This week my Instagram stream has been filled with first day of school pictures; my kids have already been back for almost a month. Thankfully the school year is going really well and they both have great teachers who will help them have successful years.

When I was little I thought I wanted to be a teacher; somewhere along the way that dream shifted but I have never forgotten the importance of amazing inspiring teachers.

I always did pretty good in school except for spelling.  I seemed to be the anomaly to the idea that if you read a lot you can spell.  My mom would quiz me and the letters would just come out jumbled or all wrong.  In 6th grade, my teacher asked if I would like to figure out my learning style.

She took me aside and asked me lots of questions, carefully watching my eyes as I answered.  The questions all seemed simple enough and many not even related.  She thanked me and told me she would soon get back to me with my results.

A short while later she took me aside and told me that I was a visual learner, so the best way for me to learn was by seeing things.  Rather than have my mom orally quiz me for spelling, I needed to look at the list, study it and then write down the words so I could see them again.  The best part, she was right, it worked!

She told me that the direction my eyes shifted when I was figuring the answers indicated what type of learner I was.  It fascinated me that she could learn that just based on my eyes and it began my fascination with how the human mind works, which led me to major in Psychology.

I took that knowledge that I was a visual learner and used it for my benefit throughout school, even into my college years.  I couldn't just simply go to a lecture and listen and learn, I needed to take notes and read over those notes and see the words.  I would write lists of questions and answers to study for tests.  My 6th grade teacher impacted my life in a way I don't think I ever fully realized until now.

Have you had a teacher who inspired you?  One who helped you learn something about yourself you may have never known?

I am excited for an upcoming two hour special television event presented by Participant Media, “TEACH”.  TEACH's air date is September 6th at at 8:00 pm ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.
Teach TV Premiere
"TEACH" follows four dedicated teachers from different schools across the country over the course of one school year. 

The teachers are from different backgrounds and serving in very different places in the country.  There is Matt Johnson a 4th grade teacher in Denver Colorado in a turnaround and innovation school.  He grew up in the projects (an extremely rough and dangerous area of Chicago) and uses his experiences to relate to his students.  There is also a 7th grade teacher in Idaho, a 9th grade math teacher at what was once declared one of the the most troubled schools in the country, and a 10th grade AP History teacher in the same school featured in the movie Stand and Deliver

TEACH is award-winner director Davis Guggenheim's third documentary film about education in America.   In TEACH he seeks to find out what it takes to be a great teacher today. He hopes to give viewers a window into the challenges, demands and rewards of teaching, with the purpose of elevating and promoting the profession, as well as engaging new teachers and supporting current teachers. For the best teachers, it’s not just a job but a mission. 

“TEACH” will also air on the new network, Pivot on September 18th at 8:00 pm ET/PT

I encourage you to track out the trailer of TEACH and find out more information on their webpage at the link here.

I would love to hear about a teacher who really made a difference in your life.

This post is sponsored by Participant Media but my love of teachers is 100% my own.

40 comments:

  1. I hadn't heard about this show! I can't wait to watch it. I know that I am also a visual learner and I suspect that my son is too. It's so helpful to know this and to have a teacher that is willing to take the time to help you learn.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for sharing, I will have to check this out!

    ReplyDelete
  3. You're Welcome- especially with how schools are changing a lot now I think it will be very interesting to watch

    ReplyDelete
  4. It wasn't until college that I finally "got" math. I didn't like it it at all until then and didn't do that great. I had a great teacher to explained things so well that it finally clicked.


    I've never heard of this show or the network. I'll have to take a closer look!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yes it really does make a difference. My husband is definitely an auditory learner so he could just go to the lecture, listen and would do well, drove me crazy!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I used to get math until one bad teacher then it just was never quite as easy and natural to me-- so yes a teacher and make a huge difference one way or the other. It think it will be a great show

    ReplyDelete
  7. THIS is AMAZING!!! My favorite teacher was my 8th grade teacher!
    I still remember so many wonderful life lessons she taught us!
    And then my senior year's english teacher- amazing! Inspiring!
    All teachers really inspire me! My son's kindergarten teacher and his teacher this year are both AMAZING! Teachers really are underappreciated.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Talk about a life-changing teacher! She was really smart to assess you that way! I had a really invested professor like that in college. I miss him!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Gosh, I had a number of teachers who made a difference. Thanks for reminding me of them as I took a walk down memory lane. We often forget the influence teachers can have. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a great teacher you had, going above abd beyond! I love that you were able to take that knowledge and use it all through school. Amazing. Lucky.
    I once got into an argument with a friend about the greatest profession. I said it was teaching. He said it was programming. I pointed out how much harder programming would be to learn without teachers.
    That show looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yes, I think teachers are totally undervalued! If they were appreciated and compensated more for what they do then good teachers would stick around and the pride in their jobs and the work they do would increase.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yes, I had several others I thought of too as I was writing this but didn't want the post to be forever long :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Yes, the really great teachers are missed and not forgotten

    ReplyDelete
  14. Yes! I really wish people would appreciate, respect and support teachers more; if they did it would just lead to more better quality teachers.

    ReplyDelete
  15. My kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Jensen, was amazing! She was kind and compassionate. She taught me the importance of treating others as you wanted to be treated, that it was important to share, and that it is always better to do the right thing - even when the right thing is hard.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Good teachers make all the difference in the world!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I was a teacher for several years before I had my daughter so I'm really interested in this show! Can't wait until it starts!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh that sounds like a great show. Looking forward to it starting!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I've had many teachers throughout my life that made a huge impact on me!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Yes it was hard to think of just one as there were several.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Yes, I think it should be really interesting

    ReplyDelete
  22. Yes it will be fun to watch and I think it will definitely make me appreciate teachers even more

    ReplyDelete
  23. That is awesome and what great things to be taught right from the start.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Aren't teachers just amazing? They can really change your life and your educational experience. I've had some amazing teachers in my life as well :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. GREAT POST! i had an awesome 6th great teacher too :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Great post <3 Can't wait to watch!!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Teachers can make such a huge differences!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Mommy2Jam (Adrianne)August 29, 2013 at 4:40 PM

    My History teacher in High School really made a difference in my life. I believe that was partly because he believed in me.

    ReplyDelete
  29. My 4th grade teacher encouraged my love of reading books. I'm going to check out that TV show you mentioned. Will either watch or DVR it. Sounds fascinating!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Teachers can be an amazing influence for good! I have had several great ones, but my heart always goes back to a couple elementary teachers who were positive and made me feel like I was important.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Yes, it really is so empowering knowing you matter to someone

    ReplyDelete
  32. I love reading too- always have, though it is sometimes dangerous as I totally get lost in a good book.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Yes! It makes such a difference having someone believe in you- we all need someone in our lives that does

    ReplyDelete
  34. Totally can change an entire year

    ReplyDelete
  35. That is good you had great 6th grade teacher, as especially those years are pretty crazy for kids as it is.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Glad you have had good teachers too and yes they totally change everything.

    ReplyDelete
  37. That's awesome that your teacher was able to help you like that!

    Jack is a visual learner and an excellent speller. Before we orally quiz him, we have to let him look at the words. And then sometimes, depending on how hard they are, he has to write them down before he answers (answering orally will mess him up). He got 100% on every spelling test last year and he had the hardest list.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Yes, it is crazy how just knowing how someone learns can make a total difference!

    ReplyDelete

ShareThis