In my last semester at SFSU School of Business, I was fortunate study Business Communications with Peg Thompson. She took a special interest in getting to know each student and shared useful techniques of delivering an effective speech. She had an intelligent heart, and this helped me in my role of addressing large groups of students at our campus.
My family is a family of entrepreneurs.
They started businesses from scratch. Seeing how they met and overcame obstacles along the way taught me perseverance as well as business sense.
In reflecting back, I can think of two mentors who truly impacted my direction in life. The first mentor was my mother, who set a foundational example of the importance of education, responsibility and attention to detail. I watched her overcome obstacles in life to earn her PhD while terminally ill. I realized the importance of setting and attaining goals even in the face of dire challenges. The second mentor was my 6th grade math teacher, Mrs. Imperado. She took the extra time to work with me to make sure I understood the material. Despite a packed classroom, she never made me feel like just a number. Instead, she went above and beyond to assist me, even giving of her own time to do so. She taught me that things that seem insurmountable are really very attainable with some extra effort, dedication and attention. These mentors have helped to shape me into an effective online and on ground facilitator who will give that little extra on an individual basis to help my students succeed.
Tammi Clearfield
Steve,
What did this teacher do to inspire you to see him as a mentor?
my auto shop teacher in high school was one of my only mentors growing up. he was the reason i went into the automotive repair field and he is the reason i am now an automotive instructor. he had a huge effect on my choice of careers.
Thanks, Kenny.
It always makes me smile when someone writes about one of their parents as their mentor. My dad was mine.
What do you do specifically to help guide your students?
As an instructor I look back and many times see myself in the students shoes, I ask myself everyday "who can i help succeed today" They depend on me to supply them with those tools.
I believe that my dad had the biggest influence on me, He had helped me learn how important it was to take ALL, suck it up like a sponge and run with it. I found out while on the way that not many people will "hold your hand" but will guide you.
Thanks, Paul. It makes sense for all of us to teach our students to be RUDE.
As an automotive instructor, I inform my students of what procedures to follow and why it is important to follow them. Then, I stand back and observe their progress in the lab. I allow them to make mistakes. Just before they get totally lost, I stop them, ratchet them back and start from the beginning. I explain each step in detail and show them where they made their mistake. Usually, this reinforces classroom discussions on the importance of reading instructions fully and following them exactly. Once they realize the importance of RUDE (READ the full question, UNDERSTAND what is being asked, DO what is being asked, EVALUATE the results) and the consequences of not heeding the instructions, then I have them restart the lab task from the beginning until they come up with the correct diagnosis. This is one of the methods I employ to stimulate the critical thinking skills in my students.
Thank you, Paul. What do you do to correct students and still help them maintain their self-esteem?
I've had mentors that were considered to be strict or focused, which they were. However, they explained the "why" for the "what." I always understood what was required and why it was so. When I made mistakes, I was corrected in a manner that taught me what I did wrong and how to do it properly next time. I wasn't "disciplined", per se, as much as I was "discipled."
Thanks, Jon. My father was the greatest man I ever met. He was my mentor while he was alive and still is now seven years after he passed away. He walked the talk by valuing others and always putting family and friends ahead of himself.
It is great to hear that others have had that same experience.
My father taught me that being kind (kindnesss) to others is not a sign of weakness. It sounds silly but it taught me to embrace compassion for others and to treat others with respect. It taught me to listen to people and not just hear them. I think a big part of open and effective communication is listening to others and analyzing what they are not saying, not just what they are saying.
The effect on my career in education, it taught me to realize that students need to be heard to, and by taking time to listen to them absolutely goes a long way. Students are more receptive when they know you are listening.
Thanks, Dave. It is indeed important to help students see "the big picture" as often as possible as we work with them.
One challenge I have found is that once students get into the routine of school, including the tough choices they have to balance their work, home and academic commitments, they start to focus more on the short-term things like the next assignment or the next class session. We have to be able to deal with these "rocks in the road" as well as with their long-term goals.
Often times if we can have the students look at the big picture they will one day understand the importance of what we are trying to get across to them.
Donald,
Yours is a story that illustrates what being a good teacher is all about. Thank you for sharing.
Many of our students are in a similar position. I worked 40 hours per week while getting my first degree. I was lucky enough to have a great support system. Many of our students do not have that and thus, they need us to help them in ways many traditional students have not needed assitance.
Thank you, Wayne.
What were some ofthe specific HABEs your mentors had that helped you develop?
I finished high school in 1964, a few teachers had me convinced I was stupid, could not learn and would never amount to any thing.
One of the counselors Mrs. Vance looked beyond the grades and took into consideration that I was working full time after school six days a week.
Mrs. Vance arranged for me to attend adult education classes at night to complete high school. I finished the assigned classes with hi grades. That gave me confidence that I could learn and accomplish goals that I set.
The challenge is to get students to succeed in life as well as in class I try to look beyond the obvious. Grades and attitude are indictors; we need to use them as tools to address underlying problems. We need to seek out solutions to the challenges the students have and the grades will for the most part take care of themselves.
When I went to college there was one instructor I had for several courses and I always admired his technical knowledge. At that point I thought he had a really fun job and wanted to see myself in that same postion someday...and here I am!
I also had a few teachers in high school that had a major impact on me.
They were very strick about following proper proceedures as well as paying attention to detail. I did not totally realize untill I was older that those 2 thinks in life as well as in the work place go a long way.
