Teaching is not just about imparting knowledge but reigniting the passion for learning, growing and investing in the future daily. This noble profession might not be for everyone, but for Sally Johnson, A.F. Adderley Junior School's Teacher of the Year, it is her life and she cannot imagine herself in any other job. The outstanding 38-year-old social studies teacher has been teaching for 15 years, with 13 of those years spent teaching at the A.F. Adderley Junior School. She says she enjoys every moment spent and it just makes her day being able to interact and touch the many students she comes in contact with.
Q: What is your fondest memory as a teacher?
A: I have many good memories but I think my best one would be something that happened in my fourth year as a teacher. I introduced technology to my grade nine students and I was so amazed in the fact that here we are still teaching in the traditional "chalk talk" and I had students who knew how to manipulate a computer. I thought I was introducing something new to them but they knew how to show me how to use the computer and the programs better than I could show them. As a matter of fact when I introduced the method of PowerPoint, it was a student who taught me how to put sound effects in my presentation. It was a great feeling to see that as much as I could teach my students they too could teach me.
Q: What makes a good teacher?
A: First of all, being a good teacher, I follow the principles of Jesus Christ, the master teacher. Once I am organized in terms of knowing my content area and knowing my students, I am ready for all challenges. Many new teachers come with this false concept that they will be in a class of students who know everything and will understand from the first day, but it's a struggle for them when they see something different. The making of a good teacher is to be able to get to know the background of the students and genuinely care about them. If you can do this then you will be able to carry the content across better. You have to see students as individuals rather than just a collective group.
Q: What is your greatest challenge in the classroom?
A: My greatest challenge would be dealing with non-readers. Social studies is a content based subject, and not being able to read is a problem that most teachers in this area face. You often have to go back to basics mostly when you try to teach this subject because they cannot read or understand certain concepts. This then results in you not being able to finish curriculum or class plans so that you can accommodate the students and really work with them so they do get it. You have to often deviate from what your plan would've been, but it's okay. My philosophy is to meet the students where they are. I have been finding that more and more students are not at the right reading and comprehension levels so for us in social studies this is the main challenge.
Q: What do you advise parents to do with their children over the summer break so they are academically prepared for the upcoming school year?
A: Parents should basically keep the kids away from television and all these games. Try to enroll them in a reading or academically based summer program. Being unable to read and comprehend is a major problem in our public school systems. I am not saying that students shouldn't be able to enjoy their summer break, but parents should at least try to get them reading and academically engaged in the weeks closer to the start of school to get their brains back in gear. Even if they do fun things, ensure that some reading is involved. Keep them away from the television and other similar activities. Get them to read books even if it's online. There are lots of free electronic books online that they can look into. You just have to properly monitor them to make sure they are reading good things of course, but just get them to do something with reading.
Q: What advice would you give the idealistic new teacher who will be entering the education field in the new school year?
A: The first thing I would want them to understand is that they have to have a love for children. They need plenty patience. As a teacher with many years behind me in this field, things have changed significantly from when I was in the classroom [as a student]. Back then the teacher was the figure in the classroom. Here you are competing with all other sources of information like the television, the Internet and students come from so many different backgrounds. So when you enter you have to be ready. You also need to get to know the students -- put the curriculum aside and sit and talk to the kids to find out who they are and what they are going through. If you do that then you will see that little Johnny is not just another troublemaker but he is going through a lot. If you can help ease one situation he may be facing he will be able to focus better and it often will reflect more in his work. You can't come into the system ready to judge students and assume this and that about them. As a new teacher, keep your mind open and see students as individuals, respect them and they will do the same to you. They will see where you are coming from and put an effort into learning if you show that you care about them.
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