WHO AM I?

1. WHO AM I? • GUY ELDERS • ENGLISH • A FATHER • A DREAMER • A RISK TAKER • A TEACHER 

2. "The Little Boy" Once a little boy went to school. He was quite a little boy. And it was quite a big school. But when the little boy Found that he could go to his room By walking right in from the door outside, He was happy. And the school did not seem quite so big Anymore. One morning, When the little boy had been in school awhile, The teacher said, "Today we are going to make a picture." "Good," thought the little boy. He liked to make pictures. He could make all kinds, Lions and tigers, Chickens and cows, Trains and boats. And he took out his box of crayons And began to draw.

3. But the teacher said, "Wait, It is not time to begin." And she waited until everyone looked ready. "Now," said the teacher, "We are going to make flowers." "Good!" thought the little boy. He liked to make flowers. And he began to make beautiful ones With his pink and blue and orange crayons. But the teacher said, "Wait," And I will show you how." And she drew a flower on the blackboard. It was red with a green stem. "There," said the teacher, "Now you may begin." The little boy looked at the teacher's flower. Then he looked at his own flower. He liked his own flower better than the teacher's. But he did not say this.

4. He just turned his paper over And made a flower like the teacher's. It was red with a green stem. On another day When the little boy had opened The door from the outside all by himself, The teacher said, "Today we are going to Make something with clay." "Good!" thought the little boy. He liked clay. He could make all kinds of things With clay: Snakes and snowmen, Elephants and mice, Cars and trucks. He began to pull and pinch his ball of clay. But the teacher said, "Wait. It is not time to begin." And she waited until everyone looked ready.

5. "Now," said the teacher, "We are going to make a dish." "Good!" thought the little boy. He liked to make dishes. And he began to make some. They were all shapes and sizes. But the teacher said, "Wait, And I will show you how." And she showed everyone how to make One deep dish. "There," said the teacher, "Now you may begin." The little boy looked at the teacher's dish. Then he looked at his own. He liked his dishes better than the teacher's. But he did not say this. He just rolled his clay into a big ball. Again. And made a dish like the teacher's. It was a deep dish. And pretty soon The little boy learned to wait, And to watch, And to make things just like the teacher. And pretty soon He didn't make things of his own Anymore.

6. Then it happened That the little boy and his family moved to another city, And the little boy had to go to another school. This school was even bigger than the other one. And there was no door from the outside into his room. He had to go up some steps And walk down a long hall To get to his room. And the very first day he was there, The teacher said, "Today, We are going to make a Picture." "Good!" thought the little boy, And he waited for the Teacher to tell him what to do. But the teacher didn't say anything. She just walked around the room. When she came to the little Boy, she said, "Don't you want To make a picture?" "Yes," said the little boy. "What are we going to make?" "I don't know until you make It," said the teacher. "How shall I make it? said the little boy. "Why, any way you like," said the teacher. "And any color?" asked the little boy. "Any color," said the teacher. "If everyone makes the same Picture and uses the same Colors, how wouldI know who Made what and which was which?" "I don't know," said the Little boy.

7. And he began to make a flower. It was RED, with a GREEN stem.

8. TEACH US IF YOU DARE WE ARE WAITING

9. WE TALK A LOT ABOUT STUDENT CENTRED LEARNING AND PORTFOLIOS AND PLACING EMPHASIS ON THE STUDENT. BUT IT IS STILL THE ROLE OF THE TEACHER TO FACILITATE AND MONITOR THIS STUDENT CENTREDNESS IF THE TEACHER IS SUCCESSFUL THEN THIS MAY HAPPEN

10. THIS IS FUN! I LOVE MY JOB

11. SOMETHING IS WRONG HOWEVER THIS IS ALSO POSSIBLE My name’s TROUBLE Welcome to HELL! Let’s make some NOISE

12. I BELIEVE THAT MOST OF WHAT GOES ON IN THE CLASSROOM IS INFLUENCED BY THE TEACHERFAR MORE THAN BY THE STUDENT. SOME TEACHERS ARE ABLE TO HANDLE ANY CLASS. NO STUDENT IS TOO MUCH FOR ME WHY WON’T THEY SHOW ME ANY RESPECT? OTHERS CAN CREATE CHAOS OUT OF EVEN THE BEST CLASS IN THE SCHOOL

13. HOWEVER FOR MOST OF US – THERE ARE DAYS WHEN WE GET IT EXACTLY RIGHT AND GO HOME HAPPY AND THERE ARE DAYS WHEN WE JUST GO HOME

14. WE CAN ALL DESCRIBEA GOOD TEACHER PATIENT TOLERANT POSITIVE UNDERSTANDING ENCOURAGING ALWAYS WELL-PREPARED HELPFUL ENERGETIC ENTHUSIASTIC FAIR WELL - INFORMED FRIENDLY • IF I ASKED YOU TO COME UP WITH A LIST OF THE QUALITIES OF A GOOD TEACHER - IT WOULD PROBABLY LOOK LIKE THIS

15. BUT LET’S ALL BE HONEST – COMPLETE THE ACROSTIC R E A L TIRED E A C H E R SHORT OF MONEY READY TO EXPLODE EXHAUSTED ACTORS/ACTRESSES LOST! TIRED EXASPERATED ADDICTS CRAZY HEART ATTACK RISKS ECCENTRIC RESTLESS SHORT OF MONEY

16. ONE THING IS CERTAINWE ARE ALL DIFFERENT TEACHER TYPES !

17. I WILL LOOK AT A NUMBER OF TEACHER TYPES • 1 The New Teacher • 2 The Disciplinarian • 3 The Friend • 4 The Entertainer • 5 The Cool Teacher • 6 The Voice of Experience

18. THE NEW TEACHER! Students will like me because I’m young I finally made it – I’m a teacher I’m aware of all the latest methodology Technology does not scare me I have every necessary skill to teach. That’s what I want to do !!!

19. THE NEW TEACHER • FULL OF ENTHUSIASM • USUALLY WELL EDUCATED AND UP TO DATE • YOUNG = CLOSER IN AGE TO STUDENTS (SOMETHING IN COMMON) • WILLING TO TRY NEW THINGS • --------------------------------------------------------- • CAN BECOME DISILLUSIONED QUITE QUICKLY • QUICKLY LEARNS THAT THEORY AND PRACTICE ARE VERY DIFFERENT • MAY BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR ADVICE • MAY SUFFER PROBLEMS WITH DISCIPLINE ESPECIALLY IN HIGH SCHOOL • NEEDS TIME TO LEARN ABOUT RULES AND SCHOOL POLICY • WILL SUFFER PERIODS OF SELF – DOUBT AND NEED ENCOURAGEMENT

20. THE DISCIPLINARIAN I DON’T CARE IF THEY LIKE ME OR NOT RESPECT FOR THE TEACHER IS ESSENTIAL THEY WOULDN’T DARE MAKE A NOISE IN MY LESSON A CLASSROOM WITHOUT RULES IS LIKE A CAR WITHOUT WHEELS

21. THE DISCIPLINARIAN • BELIEVES THAT DISCIPLINE IS AT THE ROOT OF EDUCATION • HIS/HER CLASSES NEVER SPEAK WITHOUT PERMISSION • THEY KNOW THAT H/W MUST BE GIVEN ON TIME • TEACHER BELIEVES IN PUNISHMENT AND WILL ENFORCE DISCIPLINE IF NECESSARY • ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- • MAY FRIGHTEN STUDENTS • THEY MAY NOT TAKE RISKS • MAY CONCENTRATE ON BEHAVIOUR TO SUCH AN EXTENT AS TO FORGET ABOUT STUDENT PERSONALITIES • MAY APPEAR UNAPPROACHABLE TO STUDENTS • MAY COME INTO MORE THAN NECESSARY CONFLICT WITH STUDENTS

22. I UNDERSTAND THEM THE FRIEND THEY TRUST ME I SPEND TIME WITH THEM OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO LIKE EACH OTHER

23. THE FRIEND • TRIES HARD TO GET ON WITH THE STUDENTS • GENERALLY IS POPULAR WITH STUDENTS • TRIES TO EARN THEIR TRUST AND UNDERSTAND THEIR PROBLEMS • IS WILLING TO GIVE UP BREAK AND AFTER SCHOOL TIME --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- • MAY HAVE PROBLEMS WHEN HAVING TO IMPOSE AUTHORITY ON A “FRIEND” • MAY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BE FRIENDS WITH ALL THE STUDENTS – LEADING TO RESENTMENT AMONG THOSE STUDENTS WHO DO NOT SEE THEMSELVES AS A “FRIEND” • MAY FACE A DILEMMA IF FORCED TO BETRAY THE TRUST OF A “FRIEND”

24. THE ENTERTAINER I MUST KEEP THEM HAPPY I HOPE THEY LIKE THE SHOW I MUST SHOW THEM THAT I HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOUR THEY LOVE MY LESSON BECAUSE THEY LAUGH SO MUCH

25. THE ENTERTAINER • WILL DO ANYTHING TO KEEP STUDENTS “AMUSED” • LESSONS ARE GENERALLY FUN • IS POPULAR WITH STUDENTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LAUGH • HAS GOOD RELATIONS WITH PARENTS WHO BELIVE HE/SHE IS A GOOD TEACHER BECAUSE THEIR CHILDREN LOVE HIM/HER ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- • IS IN DANGER OF LOSING RESPECT AS “TEACHER”- IS SEEN MORE AS A SHOWMAN • MAY CONFUSE EDUCATION WITH ENTERTAINMENT FORGETTING TO “TEACH” • IS NOT ALWAYS POPULAR WITH SERIOUS STUDENTS • MAY FACE PROBLEMS WITH CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT WITH CLASSES WHO CANNOT IMPOSE LIMITS ON THEMSELVES

26. COOL TEACHER MY ENGLISH IS GOOD BECAUSE I LOOK GOOD FÖNSÜZ ÇIKMAM ABİ! TEACHERS MUST LOOK GOOD I NEVER HAVE A PROBLEM ATTRACTING THEIR ATTENTION

27. COOL TEACHER • IS POPULAR WITH STUDENTS • OFTEN HAS A SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF LATEST FASHION – CREATES A BOND WITH LIKE-MINDED STUDENTS • IS NICE TO LOOK AT – GETS STUDENTS ATTENTION ------------------------------------------------------------------- • MAY ATTRACT ATTENTION FOR WRONG REASON • MAY MAKE CERTAIN STUDENTS UNCOMFORTABLE • IN SCHOOLS WHERE THERE ARE STRICT RULES ABOUT UNIFORM AND JEWELLARY ETC. MAY CAUSE RESENTMENT

28. THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE I HAVE SEEN IT ALL BEFORE THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO UPSET ME THERE IS NOTHING I NEED TO LEARN THESE YOUNG TEACHERS HAVE SO MUCH TO LEARN

29. THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE • HAS LEARNT HOW TO CONTROL THE CLASS • KNOWS HOW TO TREAT STUDENTS AND HOW SHE/HE WANTS TO BE TREATED BY THEM • IS NOT SHOCKED BY ANYTHING • IS RESPECTED • KNOWS WHAT IS EXPECTED FROM THEMSELVES AS REGARDS THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT • ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- • MAY BE IN A RUT – UNCONCIOUSLY BORING • MAY BE CLOSED TO OR DISTRUSTING OF NEW IDEAS OR METHODS • MAY BE OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE FEELINGS OF MODERN SCHOOL CHILDREN (i.e MUSIC OR FASHION – EVEN MORAL VALUES) • MAY BE COMPLETELY DISSILUSIONED WITH THE TEACHING PROFESSION AND TRANSMIT THIS TO STUDENTS

30. FINALLY I ASKED SOME OF MY STUDENTS TO DESCRIBE THEIR PERFECT TEACHER HERE’S WHAT THEY SAID

31. I ASKED THE STUDENTS WHAT THEY THOUGHT They must be funny We want a teacher who never gives homework Can I get this plane out of the window? We like teachers who are never angry They must never give exams!

32. WHAT THEY REALLY SAID WAS • WE WANT A TEACHER : • Who can speak, give advice, take advice, walk and talk with his or her students:- THE FRIEND Who can make the same jokes as us and play games:- THE ENTERTAINER However he must keep the authority:- THE DISCIPLINARIAN Who can speak the same language as the students NEW TEACHER Who sees us as his or her children THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE Whose outfit is good becase I have to look at him/her the whole lesson:- THE COOL TEACHER

33. YOU HAVE TO HELP EACH OTHER FRIENDS SHOULD SHARE IDEAS WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER EVERYONE NEEDS ADVICE SOMETIMES LET’S HAVE FUN DOING WHAT WE DO! YOU CAN’T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT’S COVER EMBRACE NEW IDEAS

34. WE ARE STILL WAITING :)

35. THANKS FOR LISTENING ! guy.elders@ozelturkkoleji.com - gelders@superonline.com