Alive Magazine July-August 2014 | Page 23

teaching with God at the helm. I want to share a culmination of notions that have been practiced [by myself and teachers that have been recognized for the work that they do] and put into words by way of research. I pray that if you are a teacher, you will receive these God-inspired words as safe advice for impacting the work you do in the lives of children from this point on. If you are not a teacher, I pray that God will work through you to touch the life of a teacher with what strikes a chord with you. teaching, I would like to share insight on the following notions: 1make establishing relationships a priority, 2create a learning environment where students feel safe to share thinking, ask questions, and participate in conversation naturally, and 3teach everyday as if students could decide not to return. Establish relationships When I stumbled upon the quote by Rita Pierson mentioned above, I immediately saw that as the Let me underscore this article with this, whether your mindset of a great teacher that understands the students are from affluent homes or ones that importance of making relationships with the struggle because they have to live without adequate students a priority. The teacher that left a lasting resources; it is the job of the teacher to understand impression on my life was the one that took the time that YOU MATTER when it comes to the success of to pour into my character as much as my cognition. [ [ The great teacher sees the role as teacher to be extremely influential and takes that truth very seriously since you don’t get to know where that influence starts and stops. all students. Good teachers know this and put forth some effort to make sure lessons are planned to accommodate their different learners and carry those plans out pretty efficiently. However, the great teacher understands that students don’t care what you know until they know that you care. With that being said, the great teacher embodies this thought by Rita Pierson, “Every child deserves a champion – an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.” Carrying out this huge task as a great teacher is not an easy job; however, the things that are difficult and sometimes seem impossible is the perfect stage for the glory of God. “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me, will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life’ “John 8:12. When thinking about “good becomes great” When