This I Believe....

This I believe that learning and motivation are two of the main elements in teaching. The problem sometimes is getting students to learn or be motivated. The best way that I feel students learn is by interaction. Talking about a topic can only take a students imagination so far. If a student can ingage in that topic, I feel they can learn much more. Whether that is going on a field trip, having the students talk to each other, a project, etc. Technology is so advanced in today’s world that almost anything can be interactive. Times have changed and I feel that teachers can use the technology to their advantage. With motivation, I feel that students learn best when they have a general relationship with the teacher beyond the classroom. Some of the best teachers I had would always ask how the day is going and they seemed interested in how I was doing. When students feel they have an open relationship with the teacher, where they can come in and talk if they need help, then I feel they will be motivated to do well in class. If a teacher can tap the students interests outside of the classroom and somehow incorporate them into the lesson plan, then students will be more motivated also. I will end with a great Chinese proverb that I fully agree with, "Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand."