tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040484164765793907.post2071819660226300497..comments2023-11-25T04:57:42.356-05:00Comments on Prestwick Café: Great Teachers: Born or Made?Keith Bergstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18156666108206916531noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040484164765793907.post-90033730856385735972009-07-10T08:55:48.124-04:002009-07-10T08:55:48.124-04:00The original blog was not intended to imply that o...The original blog was not intended to imply that only those with that ‘innate gift’ or ability can or should be in front of the classroom. We are not in disagreement there. However, the idea that courses can create a skilled teacher to me is foolish. Many of the teachers I had, and many of those with whom I taught, could not effectively communicate the wealth of knowledge they possessed. My blog’s purpose was to indicate that there is a necessity to offer learning within an interesting presentation. After all, I do not know if any of these fabulous teachers went through formal education courses and wrote out precise-to-the-minute lesson plans with properly worded educational objectives. All I do know, though, is that the three I mentioned were among the majority, the influential ones in my school, the ones ‘we kids’ admired and spoke about lovingly in years of reunions, after each one of them had passed on to that great classroom in the sky. The others, the pedantic lecturers hidden behind their podiums reading from faded notes unchanged since their own college days, the ones who had one method of teaching, who were close-minded and would not brook any deviation from rote memorization and spitting back what they delivered to us, received our scorn, sarcasm, and derision, even after these many years had passed. I taught for more than 20 years, and this is the first time I have had in print to thank some of the inspiring mentors I had in high school.paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03478934702842476043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040484164765793907.post-30591506162115269422009-07-09T18:03:14.800-04:002009-07-09T18:03:14.800-04:00I disagree with the notion that teaching is kind o...I disagree with the notion that teaching is kind of innate "gift" that only some are born with. Teachers are nurtured with experience, training, and reflection. For more on quality PD see my post:<br />A Guide to Designing Effective Professional Development: Essential Questions for the Successful Staff Developer http://bit.ly/oRajIPeter Pappashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10747003532138587997noreply@blogger.com