We all remember a teacher who inspired us. An individual who has always believed in us, supported us through challenges, sparked our passion for a topic, or inspired us to keep going when we were discouraged. For me, I was fortunate enough to have many teachers who shaped my academic career and passion for education. In addition to being teachers, these individuals served as mentors, nurses, counselors, parents, friends, and ultimately, role models.
Teacher Feature, a new blog series by The School Planner Company, will highlight educators from all over the country. These teachers and education entrepreneurs make an impact in and outside of the classroom sharing valuable knowledge with students and fellow teachers through influential sites and blogs. We are excited to launch the Teacher Feature blog series and bring awareness to how much teachers do each day, the relationships they foster with their students, and ultimately, how we as a community can best support them. Look forward to new teacher features regularly!
If you know an amazing educator who you think we should feature, please let us know by emailing bmctigue@mimeo.com.
AnnMarie Igoe, Amigo Science
Why did you become a teacher?
In my family, I am the oldest female cousin out of 15 in our immediate family. I naturally became the go-to babysitter in the family, and I always loved playing school while babysitting. I remember being so excited when a teacher of mine gave me her old teacher-edition textbook that she was getting rid of. I took it home and taught my little cousins! I never really thought of being anything other than a teacher. I think sometimes your profession just picks you.
What do you hope your students take away from your classroom?
Overall, I want my students to leave my class knowing that I care about them as a person and not just a student. I firmly believe that 20 years from now my students are not going to remember that awesome science lesson, but instead they are going to remember how I made them feel.
Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to a new teacher?
Have a procedure for everything, and I mean everything. Students crave structure and familiarity, so give it to them. Develop a procedure for how the students walk into the room, begin work, pass out papers, all the way to how they leave the room. That way they know exactly what to do. It takes the pressure off everyone in your room. Teach it the entire first week of school until they know exactly what to do when they are in your room.
Why do you feel paper planners are beneficial to students?
I firmly believe you cannot write without thinking. Just putting pencil to paper and making a list makes a person more likely to remember a task. I do not feel the same about typing. There is also the possibility that technology can fail or at the very least, that the battery can die. This is untrue for paper planners which are always available.
If you could design your ideal teacher planner, what three things would you be sure it includes?
Thick, high-quality paper and a front and back cover that will not rip off.
2. A monthly calendar, then a weekly planner starting in August. The weekly planner should start on Monday and go through Friday, with a smaller space designed for notes about the weekend.
3. Customizable sections with tabs. This can be for class lists, medications, allergies, phone numbers, etc. I like to have everything in one place.