Since teachers are often the ones who spend the most hours in the day with a child, their influence is most prolific. Our primary job is to teach the standards, the Common Core State Standards. However, we do not just teach the standards, we also guide students as they experience and learn important life skills, such as being genuine, honest and to follow the golden rule; how to persevere in solving a problem and try to view it from a different angle; how to deal with their emotions and how to respond appropriately to the thoughts and feelings of others.
Education would not be what it is today without the hard work of psychologist Carl R. Rogers. In his book, Freedom to Learn, he applies his theory of person-centered therapy to student-centered learning, which emphasizes realness, prizing the learner, and empathetic understanding. I believe that when a teacher embodies these traits, they can be passed on and become a strong influence in the classroom and even the school culture.
In addition to the basic traditional literacies (reading, writing, and math), add to the mix the need to prepare students for uncertain jobs in the future by giving them practice using digital literacies, while passing along genuineness and empathy. With this, students can become responsible, functional people in society, creating and innovating in order to fulfill needs that may arise in their future global economy.
Reference:
Rogers, C. & Freiberg, H.J. (1994). Freedom to Learn, 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc.
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