I believe that the best teachers are those capable of understanding it is a role that requires wearing multiple hats. Educators spend several hours weekly with students and sadly for many, they will spend more time with their instructors than with their guardians. Teachers do more than “teach,” they are an unofficial nurse, psychiatrist, cheerleader, mandated reporter and a “semi” bonus parent to name a few. Teachers have the floor to influence scholars' futures in a positive or negative manner. Reflecting on my k-12 school years I recall having overall good experiences, minimal unpleasant, while wishing I’d had more creative teachers. At 43 years young recently, I find myself missing a lot of the teaching basics. Such as math formulas, cursive handwriting, nursery rhymes, reading aloud and dissecting frogs. I can recall my instructors often telling my parents during conferences or writing on report cards “Tai is smart and a pleasure to have in class she needs to apply herself more.” A valid statement about me, one I still struggle with. Outside of typical coursework struggles I’d also ask if that was due to boredom or my INFP personality traits? Learning this seems to be a direct correlation to my teaching philosophy results. With a leading tie as a progressive, social reconstructionist who still finds the essentials very necessary in terms of today’s genZ pupils.
