The Perfect Role Model

All education students can remember a person who has influenced them to become a teacher. They can fondly remember the first kind words their teacher gave them on the first day of school, and the person who made them realize that teaching is what they are meant to do with their lives.

I can remember Ms. Harburger who kindly took me under her wing for a year so that I could learn the process of teaching in a Montessori School. As her volunteer teaching assistant I was given the opportunity to learn valuable lessons as well as work with students on my own for the very first time. I can remember Mr. McEwan, my fourth grade teacher, who with the biggest smile greeted me on my first day of school. He was kind and gentle, and had such a soft spot for ginger snap cookies. I can also remember the day I was talking to my husband and realized that I am meant to teach.

So, I spent a few months substitute teaching to test the waters and decide if I really wanted to teach English as a Second Language. As a result I was welcomed into a school community and immersed in Second Grade life. I loved coming home in the afternoons and saying "Today in second grade I learned to. . ." and laughing about some of the things the kids had said.

But it was Mrs. Little's class that left a great impression. My first week at the school I was assigned to take the class for half a day as Mrs. Little was out in the afternoons. Was my heart pounding when I met the kids for the first time and took them back to class! I had them all to myself, and to this day I am sure the kids knew I was nervous. I knew I had a lot to learn, but as time went by the students and I became very comfortable with each other. When Mrs. Little returned full time she willingly became an instant advisor to me.

I admired the care she took in decorating and managing her classroom. She had everything organized and ran a tight ship. She spent time before and after class making sure everything was ready to go for the day's lessons, and always held her students' interests as a priority. The kids loved her, and really admired her. I think it was her dedication to teaching them, as well as caring for them that created this ultimate bond and respect.

The months I spent with her in the classroom observing, teaching, and participating taught me a great deal about effective teaching and classroom management. I came to understand the role of the teacher as an educator and as a caring adult. I enjoyed watching her teach and I enjoyed watching her students learn. I feel that I could not have spent my time with a more skillful teacher than Mrs. Little.

She is the kind of teacher I aspire to be someday. She was a perfect role model.

-- Pernilla Urps