Teachers

How can teachers be advocates for children in and out of the classroom? Teachers play an important role, everyone knows that, but does anyone actually know how much teachers do for us? It seems that teachers are just an authority figure at school, but it is so much more than that. Teachers are in a classroom with about 25 children who thirst for an education. Teachers quench this thirst with the knowledge that they teach in the classroom. Teachers do not just advocate children in the classroom; they continue to do so in the community and the lives of people. Teachers advocate for children in the classroom. “What students need to succeed in the twenty-first century is an education that is both academically rigorous and relevant to the real world” (Covey). In the classroom, teachers are resource providers, instructional specialist, curriculum specialist, classroom supporters, learning facilitators, mentors and school leaders they are also learners that learn new things each and every day from the children they teach. Children look up to teachers for help, advice, tutoring, and guidance. In the classroom, teachers teach the curriculum they have planned for the day and are expected to help any child that is falling behind or does not understand.
Discipline is also a part in the learning process. With all the cheating and various ways of bullying, schools these days have turned into a place you do not want to be at because you feel in danger of getting physically or mentally hurt (Covey). The misbehavior of these cheaters and bullies are preventing their classmates from learning and teachers from instructing the thought out session (Rizzolo). Teachers should always on the first day(s) of student attendance, get off to a good start and execute the rules of the classroom, to avoid this misbehavior from happening. Of course, the classroom rules should tie in with the school policies. When teachers are stating the classroom policies their tone must be stern but not strict, this is to ensure that the students do not take the teacher lightly. The teacher has a role in the community also. Teachers’ role in the community is extremely important, since it is the teachers who are the backbone of the educational system. The whole educational system starts with the school board. The school board comes up with all the school policy that every school must follow. Once these policies are set in stone, administrators interpret them, but the teachers are the ones that personally enforce these school policies and make sure everyone obeys these policies. For teachers to maintain support from the community to keep the school itself running, the community must have a positive observation on the teachers. In order to uphold this positive outlook, teachers must be prepared for the unknown and keep a positive attitude throughout (Nebor).
Teachers play a valuable role in today 's society. The government creates the standards of living and suggests ways of assessment. Our administrators direct the teachers to teach these standards that the government has created for us. After being directed by the administrators, the teacher educates the students on these standards. Therefore, it can be agreed that teachers are responsible for the society, or in other words is the backbone of society. As stated in the previous paragraph, a teacher is a figure that not only educates on an academic level, but also on a social level in order to create character and citizenship. As time passed, the message that teachers attempt to get across has changed but the meaning behind it has not. “A teacher must help form society at the foundation” (Covey). For today’s children will be tomorrow’s leaders. Teachers have an impact on the lives of others. Certainly, teachers affect the lives of the children they teach, but how? Teachers give their students encouragement by saying "Come on, you can do it...you 've got this!" or "Hey, I believe you can achieve more; give it your all!”(Five Ways Good Teachers Change Lives) or other uplifting phrases such as a quote that I live by that says “Don 't give up just because of what someone said. Use that as motivation to push harder.” Like encouragement, teachers also support their students by conveying the belief that their students can succeed at anything they put their mind to. The teacher must care for the students; have the child’s best interest in mind. Being a teacher like the teachers who risked their lives for their students in the Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, is not necessary but showing them respect and support and encouragement is. Most importantly, challenge the student. Set high standards and push the student to succeed in everything they set out to do. Call out the best from them by rewarding them with some praising words. Just remember do not speak words of devastation, cause humiliation, express indifference, use authority to cause fear, or act out of anger and frustration, and all will be good. Parents expect a lot from teachers. Parents expect their child to learn from his or her teacher what they cannot be taught at home. Parents want their child to gain knowledge of obedience, traditional values, admiration, good manners, and responsibility throughout their whole school experience (Covey). Parents want to be able to schedule a one on one conference with the teacher to discuss their child’s progress or any problems the child is having, and how they are doing in the class or if they are not doing so well how they can improve. Teacher’s ability to inspire children to learn should be acknowledge for enthusiasm or passion cannot be taught, but it can certainly be transferable. Also, the teacher’s ability to understand the child’s perspectives should also be acknowledged, because good teachers will see what their students need to succeed. Children should be free to make their own mistakes and not be afraid of being punished, how else will they learn if you do not give them any room. Yes children should be able to make their own decision; you should also give them space to express themselves freely. One thing that you can make sure of is wherever they are expressing themselves or making their own mistakes they are in a safe environment. Teachers also inspire one another. Teachers all have a common goal, so why not come together and share. A lesson that on teacher teaches may inspire on if not many other teachers to do/plan a similar lesson. No one teacher can know everything there is to know in this world, so they learn from each other. Social media is a great place for teachers to acquire ideas for a lesson. Sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest are outstanding sites for teachers to connect with students and other teachers (Bort). Students benefit from this by having the opportunity to obtain assignments that they have missed and obtain information. Teachers benefit by having a way to communicate with students out of the class and get a hold of some inspiration (Vartan).
Being a teacher is not an easy job. Teachers must always demonstrate leadership in multiple ways. A teacher should do everything that can to ensure that their students grow up to become a mature, responsible, and respectable person. Who knows the student may become the teacher and the teacher becomes the student.

Works Cited
Bort, Anji. Personal Interview. 13 Feb.2013.
Covey, Stephen R. The Leader in Me. New York: FranklinCovey Co., 2008. Print.
“Five Ways Good Teachers Change Lives.” Passing the Baton. WebSpark Design, 18 Nov 2009.
Web. 16 Feb.2013 http://www.passingthebaton.org
Nebor, Jon N. The Role of the Teacher in School-Community Relations [microform] / Jon N. Nebor
Distributed by ERIC Clearinghouse, [Washington, D.C.]: 1984 http://www.eric.ed.gov
Vartan, Starre. “How teachers use social media in the classroom to beef up instructions.” MNN, 2012.
Web.19 Feb. 2013 http://www.mnn.com

Cited: Bort, Anji. Personal Interview. 13 Feb.2013. Covey, Stephen R. The Leader in Me. New York: FranklinCovey Co., 2008. Print. “Five Ways Good Teachers Change Lives.” Passing the Baton. WebSpark Design, 18 Nov 2009. Web. 16 Feb.2013 http://www.passingthebaton.org Nebor, Jon N.  The Role of the Teacher in School-Community Relations [microform] / Jon N. Nebor   Distributed by ERIC Clearinghouse, [Washington, D.C.]:  1984 http://www.eric.ed.gov Vartan, Starre. “How teachers use social media in the classroom to beef up instructions.” MNN, 2012. Web.19 Feb. 2013 http://www.mnn.com