Impact of Teaching and Role of Teachers

The speaker reflects on their five-year experience as a social studies teacher in the Bronx, emphasizing the impact of being close in age to students and sharing enthusiasm for the subject. They recount forming meaningful bonds with students, which inspired the creation of donorschoose.org. The speaker also discusses the role of teachers as role models, likening them to junior parents.

What did the speaker hope to achieve during their time as a social studies teacher?

• To have a significant impact on students

• To earn a high salary

• To become famous

• To write a book

How did the speaker's age affect their relationship with students?

• It was irrelevant

• It helped them connect better

• It made them less relatable

• It created a barrier

What emotion did the speaker hope to pass on to their students?

• Anxiety about grades

• Fear of exams

• Enthusiasm for the subject

• Disinterest in studies

What personal gesture did some students make for the speaker?

• Organized a party

• Wrote birthday cards

• Created a mural

• Gave them gifts

What initiative did the speaker start after their teaching experience?

• A teaching blog

• A new school

• A scholarship fund

• donorschoose.org

How does the speaker describe the role of teachers in students' lives?

• As strict disciplinarians

• As junior parents

• As distant figures

• As entertainers

What quality do people often cite when considering teachers as role models?

• Their wealth

• Their nurturing nature

• Their strictness

• Their fame