What makes a real teacher? Is it the training we received in college? The credential we hold? Is a teacher born or is a teacher trained? We have all wondered about these questions. I found myself asking these questions as I recently attended a California League of Schools dinner honoring local educators for their service and excellence. I had the pleasure of listening to nine inspiring candidates try to explain what teaching meant to them.
I think the answers to our questions come from a wonderful children’s book called The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams. In the book, a toy stuffed rabbit is given to a boy. Some of the toys in the nursery are simply toys, while others have been transformed into real objects. The book tells the story of how the toy rabbit becomes a real rabbit.
As I read, I saw similarities to how a newly credentialed teacher goes from being a well-trained educator to a real teacher. The process is long, sometimes painful, and always worth the risk.
I urge you to visit my newest page on my website, http://www.tttpress.com/velveteen-teacher.html. There you will have the opportunity to hear a portion of a keynote address I will give at the North Carolina Association of Middle Level Education next month (Monday, March 18th).
Without spoiling the ending, you will be able to hear what I think makes us real teachers. In closing, I will leave you with this wonderful quote from the book:
“Real isn’t how you’re made, it’s a thing that happens to you…It takes a long time…But once you are real, you can’t become unreal again. It lasts for always.”
As I read, I saw similarities to how a newly credentialed teacher goes from being a well-trained educator to a real teacher. The process is long, sometimes painful, and always worth the risk.
I urge you to visit my newest page on my website, http://www.tttpress.com/velveteen-teacher.html. There you will have the opportunity to hear a portion of a keynote address I will give at the North Carolina Association of Middle Level Education next month (Monday, March 18th).
Without spoiling the ending, you will be able to hear what I think makes us real teachers. In closing, I will leave you with this wonderful quote from the book:
“Real isn’t how you’re made, it’s a thing that happens to you…It takes a long time…But once you are real, you can’t become unreal again. It lasts for always.”
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