On Good models
I tell my grad students to imagine their best teacher, and then unpack what he/she did that made them exceptional. Without fail, the commonality semester-to-semester is a solid relationship with that person, based on warmth, patience and often, humor (although that is a different post). Where I want to pause here is the importance of intentionally modeling your teaching after folks you respect. This really is the magic of teaching. Educators who may have crossed your path half a lifetime ago linger. You get to call them up all these years later, no matter time or space or distance.
When I do this, I have clear memories, some more than 20 years old. Susan Ambrose was my professor as an undergrad. She taught me that White women can do equity work. She was my first role model in the field. I followed in her footsteps. Kisha Davis Caldwell was my mentor teacher way back in the day, when I was a mere sprout, student teaching in Pittsburgh. She taught me that I could do math, could explain it even, and that it was (gasp!) fun. I also learned the role of “other mother” from Kisha, that sweet-spot place in a relationship with students where they know you love them AND that there is no messing around. I had the GOATS at UCLA, Tyrone Howard and Mike Rose. Dr. Howard taught me the importance of checking in with students. Every class he taught, the first 10 minutes were about connection with individuals. I wrote that down in a notebook that I still have today: “make students know you see them.” And Mike Rose, what can one say about Mike Rose? Mike taught me humility, plain spoken-ness, and the value of a little bit of sass.
I literally think of these folks, to this day, when I am in the classroom. Little bits of their presence show up. I “dear reader” my grad students (thanks Mike), and goof around with my undergrads (ask them what you should binge watch, other faculty folks. Hilarious. This is where I learned of “Hot Ones”). Thanks Tyrone! I taught high school math three years ago (thanks Kisha!) And I am writing this post in my blog about equity (thanks Susan).
Who are you modeling yourself after? How do you channel that person in your classroom?