Week 4: Chapters 3 & 4

"Invested teachers are personally engaged in what they ask the students to do. That is, invested teachers work hard at learning, spend free time in pursuit of knowledge, think and puzzle over problems, and get excited about ideas. Invested teachers have clear personal goals toward which they work steadily. Invested teachers exemplify the pursuit of excellence." (Page 31)

I really enjoyed reading chapters 3 and 4. There were too many quotes that I enjoyed to list just three. With that being said, this quote was a good reminder to me about the importance of being an example of always being in pursuit of knowledge. As a teacher shows this dedication and desire to learn, she will foster this desire in her students. We can never learn enough and that desire to learn needs to be a life-long pursuit. I want to be an invested teacher like that.


"The persistent teacher also models the steady but relentless quest for excellence. The persistent teacher generously acknowledges the distance a student has come academically, but also makes clear the distance each student has yet to go. That teacher helps students realize that the quest for quality never ends. If the quest ends, quality ends with it - and so does the growth of the individual. The persistent teacher not only points out that learning has no finish line for students, but lives according to that principle as well. That teacher fights 'success ego,' never succumbing to the sense that she is 'good enough' to be exempt from the need to change. 'We're all on a journey,' the persistent teachers believes, 'none of us is ever through striving." (page 33)

In my schooling, I've tried really hard to reach high academic standards. Perhaps, my goals might be a little lofty at times, but I know that I'm in charge of my learning and grades. If I receive a lower score on an assignment, it's because I didn't do enough to reach the score I was hoping for. I also realize that even with my persistence to reach high scores and grades, I still have a lot to learn. Ultimately, my goal is to achieve the knowledge from the work I've done. It's not the grade that counts. However, the grade is a physical representation of the persistence that I've given to my classes. I can never gain enough knowledge. As a teacher, I want to teach my students to set their goals high and realize that we can always do more to gain knowledge. In order to do this, we need to be persistent!


"Wise teachers expand their team in a variety of ways - forming partnerships with their students, establishing relationships with like-minded peers who serve as 'critical friends,' drawing on the expertise of specialists in the building, and actively pursuing advanced professional knowledge through universities, books, and high-quality staff development." (Page 33)

This is a good reminder that we are not on our own in the classroom. I want to be a wise teacher that knows about my resources and is humble enough to ask for help from others in the best interest of my students. I'm grateful that there are sources that I can turn to and relieved that I'm not without help from others in the classroom.


"Morning Meetings also can be a consistent means of helping students get to know one another and of building community throughout the year. These daily sessions often include greetings, sharing, a group activity, and announcements. They set a positive tone at the outset of the day, help students feel safe and welcomed, teach routines, foster positive communications, and allow opportunities for students to share ideas." (Page 41)

This was a good reminder of the importance of morning meetings and the benefits that can come from morning meetings. I'm excited to learn more about morning meetings and have a class of my own where I can hold morning meetings and develop a feeling of community, acceptance & safety for my students.