FAT Teachers

Let's explore the FAT concept for teachers:

Faithful - Are you faithful to your students, parents, and school?  A faithful teacher supports her school, doesn't gossip about others, looks for the best in her students, and is dedicated to supporting the parents of their students.  She also is faithful to her personal and professional goals and morals - not doing things that would go contrary to her values and values of her students' families.  She tries to be faithful to each individual student when setting learning goals and evaluations.  She is faithful in communication with all the parents who send students into her classroom.  Whoa!  That's asking a lot, isn't it?  Yes, but think about some of the very best teachers in the country.  They tend to have these attributes.

Available - Do you have every minute of your day scheduled, or are you available to help a student with math, or talk to a parent who comes into your room crying?  Do you have time and energy to mentor a new teacher?  Are you available to go beyond your job description, or do you only do exactly what your contract says?  I know, you do have to balance your time and not be walked on, but teachers know that they will have to be available to many other people and situations. It's not a 9 to 5 job.  Flexibility is key.

Teachable - If you don't constantly strive to learn more and do things better, you're not doing your best.  Here are some quotes that express the sentiment more eloquently than I can:
  • Unless you try to do something beyond what you have mastered, you will never grow. C.R. Lawton
  • No one knows everything, but everyone can learn something. Sean Gregory Derrick
  • Perfection does not exist - you can always do better and you can always grow. Les Brown
  • I don't think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday. Abraham Lincoln

Try to be a FAT teacher.  It won't be easy, but you will probably become the best teacher you can be.


 

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