Ch.1 Creating a Culture of Learning

Creating a culture of learning is the key to being a successful teacher. Through this chapter Wormeli gave insight about the importance of knowing ourselves. We must look at who we are and who we want to be remembered as before we become a teacher. What inspires us? Why are we inspired? What is our motivation? How can we motivate others? This aspect of who/ what do we want to be remembered as reminded me of the poem, “The Dash” we read in high school during our Holocaust unit. This poem was written by Linda Ellis and illustrated the fact that people don’t always remember you as the person (caring, kind, etc.) but what you did in your life, what exactly filled that dash, not the years but the accomplishments. The dash referred to that little mark between your birth and your death. This understanding self notion also reflects that plaque in our living room at home that reads “In hundred years, it will not matter the car you drove or the money in your bank account, etc. but how you effective the life of a child.” These are teaching notions we should take to heart instead of the bumper stickers that read, “The best thing about teaching is June, July and August.” Bumper stickers like that make those around us believe the myth that those who can’t do it, teach! We as teachers need to listen to our students, the staff, their parents and the community on ways of improvement. We underlying need to show we care and we want to make a difference in order for our beliefs to feel real and be recognized and believed us the truth.