Inspiring Educators: Weekly Roundup 9/10/18
This week, we have found many stories of teachers who are making an impact all over the world. Some of them work in special education or STEM, but what they all have in common is the belief that the well being and success of students is the top priority. But, you likely don’t have to look across the world to find an inspiring teacher. Is there a teacher at your school who inspires you? Let us know! In the meantime, we hope you enjoy the handful of stories we’ve found this week. Spread the positivity!
Spencer Kipper is a STEM teacher at Elm Grove Middle School. But recently, he took his teaching abilities overseas, to Dubai, as part of a STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Art, and Math) training initiative. He shared much of what he’d learned as a STEM teacher, providing inspiration to many. For example, Kipper says, “I showed them pictures of the custom-built video game arcade machines for the NWLA STEM on Screen Film Festival, and they were so impressed by the level of detail and effort that our students were putting into projects.” Learn more about Kipper’s overseas experience.
In line with a current positivity trend, a teacher at Hinton Community Schools has taken the lead of painting upbuilding slogans in the hallways, classrooms, even in the bathrooms, mainly encouraging students to support and be kind to one another in a world filled with the pressures of social media. Special Education teacher Paula Hodgson, Tiffany Strickland, Sarah Boesch, and Missy Conley, made this idea a reality. Check out their favorite inspiring slogans, and how they did it.
Shelby is a special education teacher at Grand Oaks High School in Texas. This year, her first year teaching a Life Skills class, she has had tremendous success. She was able to help her students hone their social skills, and learn how to run a business! She dreamt up the idea to create a coffee cart for the students to run, bought all of the supplies, and then helped her students to do the rest! Read her amazing story and some of the good that came from this endeavor.
Michigan born teacher Mark David Ecklesdafer, has been inspiring students in Shanghai for over a decade. He’s a science teacher, but not just any science teacher. Ecklesdafer has implemented a teaching philosophy he likes to call the ‘5E’, for engagement, exploration, explanation, elaboration, and evaluation. It’s not about lecturing to students or having them read textbooks, his students learn through experience and observation. Read more about his teaching techniques, what his young students think, and how he even helps them to do charity work.
