I loved hearing about your favorite teachers! It's really cool looking back and seeing the impact they had. I never liked school; it felt like it just got in the way of the other things I wanted to do. But when I got into high school, my English teacher gave us an assignment to write a 10,000 word novel. We had the whole last half of the year where instead of regular English class, we wrote a novel. It was seriously the best assignment I ever got! That's when I discovered my love for writing and found I wanted to be an author! She took us through each step of the writing process, and it made me excited for school. Later I found out that my mom, the principal, initiated that whole assignment years before. I ended up nearly doubling the word count. And then I got the assignment again my junior year, and wrote 70,000.
The teacher who made a difference to me was my high school English teacher during the first semester of my senior year. I was in the lowest English class you can be in. I never did very well in school because I did not like to read. She had us read a movie script and told us not to rent the movie. This was back in 1984/1985. Everyone had to read a part, and after every class, we wrote what we read. We had to describe a character, the scene, etc. After several weeks we watched the movie, and it really made a difference in my life. I started reading a hundred-page book very slowly, and after finishing a book, then I would reward myself for finishing a book by buying myself Dairy Queen, a movie. I have started writing children's books to help children what to read and to hopefully tell my story to get them to read. Thank you so much for all you do. I really enjoy your podcast.
Loved hearing about what a difference your teachers made! And what beautiful poems!
It's a tie for favourite teacher for me. Mrs Bailey in Grade 2 was the one who made me want to be an author, the books she taught us came alive to me. Plus she had thirty animals at home, including a horse she brought to school for us to meet. For Grade 2 Belinda you couldn't get much cooler than that.
Then Ms TeSell in Grade 5 was influential not just for being a fabulous teacher (She loved science and found the most interesting ways to teach it to us), but for how she changed my self-perception. Having started school quite young, and having a highly intelligent sibling below me, I'd never thought of myself as capable and clever. But Ms TeSell told me I was, and that small act of praise changed the way I saw myself and school and I thrived academically from then on.
Wow, wonderful poems (and fabulous gold tights, Kate! You need sunglasses for the shine off those!) I loved your inspirational teacher stories, and thought I'd share a couple of mine.
First, Miss Weston, who taught me English when I was 13/14, and was the first person in my life to tell me I had a gift for creative writing. I still remember one of the stories I wrote for her class and her lovely comments on it. It meant so much to shy, young me.
Second, Dr Llewellyn, who was one of my university history lecturers. He was a charismatic and eccentric older guy who would regale us with tales of his hilariously misspent youth while we were waiting for the previous group in the lecture theatre to vacate it for us. He taught history via anecdotes that brought the past to vibrant life. I loved his courses and adored him!
I loved hearing about your favorite teachers! It's really cool looking back and seeing the impact they had. I never liked school; it felt like it just got in the way of the other things I wanted to do. But when I got into high school, my English teacher gave us an assignment to write a 10,000 word novel. We had the whole last half of the year where instead of regular English class, we wrote a novel. It was seriously the best assignment I ever got! That's when I discovered my love for writing and found I wanted to be an author! She took us through each step of the writing process, and it made me excited for school. Later I found out that my mom, the principal, initiated that whole assignment years before. I ended up nearly doubling the word count. And then I got the assignment again my junior year, and wrote 70,000.
Hi Ladies,
The teacher who made a difference to me was my high school English teacher during the first semester of my senior year. I was in the lowest English class you can be in. I never did very well in school because I did not like to read. She had us read a movie script and told us not to rent the movie. This was back in 1984/1985. Everyone had to read a part, and after every class, we wrote what we read. We had to describe a character, the scene, etc. After several weeks we watched the movie, and it really made a difference in my life. I started reading a hundred-page book very slowly, and after finishing a book, then I would reward myself for finishing a book by buying myself Dairy Queen, a movie. I have started writing children's books to help children what to read and to hopefully tell my story to get them to read. Thank you so much for all you do. I really enjoy your podcast.
Tracy T. Agnelli
Loved hearing about what a difference your teachers made! And what beautiful poems!
It's a tie for favourite teacher for me. Mrs Bailey in Grade 2 was the one who made me want to be an author, the books she taught us came alive to me. Plus she had thirty animals at home, including a horse she brought to school for us to meet. For Grade 2 Belinda you couldn't get much cooler than that.
Then Ms TeSell in Grade 5 was influential not just for being a fabulous teacher (She loved science and found the most interesting ways to teach it to us), but for how she changed my self-perception. Having started school quite young, and having a highly intelligent sibling below me, I'd never thought of myself as capable and clever. But Ms TeSell told me I was, and that small act of praise changed the way I saw myself and school and I thrived academically from then on.
Wow, wonderful poems (and fabulous gold tights, Kate! You need sunglasses for the shine off those!) I loved your inspirational teacher stories, and thought I'd share a couple of mine.
First, Miss Weston, who taught me English when I was 13/14, and was the first person in my life to tell me I had a gift for creative writing. I still remember one of the stories I wrote for her class and her lovely comments on it. It meant so much to shy, young me.
Second, Dr Llewellyn, who was one of my university history lecturers. He was a charismatic and eccentric older guy who would regale us with tales of his hilariously misspent youth while we were waiting for the previous group in the lecture theatre to vacate it for us. He taught history via anecdotes that brought the past to vibrant life. I loved his courses and adored him!
btw, Amie, have you heard about this new adaptation of 'The Dark is Rising'? (which is also my all time favourite book): https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2022/the-dark-is-rising-bbc-world-service