Week 17 - The Testing

"We loved the doctrine for the teacher's sake" - Daniel Defoe

The first time is always the hardest. It's always the most consuming and it's always the most sweet. Teaching future teachers was the most rewarding work Vikki had ever done. It had a definite domino effect, reaching far into the future. She laughed aloud as she remembered her own reaction to this teaching assignment. Assessment! How could she possibly make such a dry topic come alive?

Twenty-five college juniors and seniors in the education department of a small private college had gathered with a collective groan. This was a dreaded class - one avoided until the very end when students had run out of all other options. All they knew was that it was boring but necessary and definitely hard. Vikki remembered when she had taken this same class. It was indeed all they feared. But she didn't want to see fear in their faces each week. She wanted to see intrigue and delight.

She brought them out of their comfort zones of reading, listening to lectures, and taking quizzes and expected of them professional standards, insights and discussion. She modeled for them what she expected, and they rose to the occasion. The workload was heavy, but the support was strong, and victory was won! Students left her class equipped and motivated. Vikki collapsed with sweet exhaustion when the semester was complete. Now she watched as each of her students' lives touched hundreds more.

When you have a chance to teach teachers, give them what you expect them to pass on to their students.

Prompt: If I had the opportunity to teach teachers, I would like to instill in them. . .