David Weston, in his TED talk “Unleashing Greatness In Teachers”, shares the ingredients that make great teachers. Of the four main ingredients described, which is your strength? How? Why? And, which is your weakness? What can you do to strengthen this weakness? Has the mandatory professional development that you have participated in recently made you a better teacher? How? Or, why not? Has the professional development that you have sought out on your own made you a better teacher? How? Or, why not?
David Weston, in his TED talk “Unleashing Greatness In Teachers”, shares the ingredients that make great teachers. Of the four main ingredients described, which is your strength? How? Why?
ReplyDeleteOne of the four ingredients that is my strength is spirit. I love watching my students grow and develop. I love the feeling of helping students.
And, which is your weakness? What can you do to strengthen this weakness?
Of the four ingredients, knowledge is my weakness. I’m in my third year of teaching and this is my first year in first grade. I’m still learning about the first grade curriculum. As I continue to teach and get experience with the curriculum and concepts, knowledge will not be my weakness anymore.
Has the mandatory professional development that you have participated in recently made you a better teacher? How? Or, why not?
Yes, with mandatory professional development, I’m able to work with my first grade team about our curriculum and concepts. This allows me to gain and learn from my team.
Has the professional development that you have sought out on your own made you a better teacher? How? Or, why not?
The professional development that I have seeked out was about bridging student clarity. Learning how to make sure students have clarity in what they are learning, but also making sure that I have clarity. If I don’t have clarity, students are not going to have clarity. This has impacted my teaching and student learning in a positive way.
Strength: Perception. It is almost a curse. Being intuitive about what my students are thinking and being able to predict what they are going to say and ask and do -- well it can be a constant distraction at times. But, mostly it is an advantage for creating meaningful experiences for them. I am able to understand feedback and adjust. It helps with planning, scaffolding learning experiences for them. Perceiving potential obstacles enables easier delivery of instruction. Also, knowing the students' personal lives and what they are dealing with everyday, enables personalized learning and understanding.
ReplyDeleteWeakness: Spirit. I am in my 30th year of teaching and have lost a bit of the "spirit" that I used to have. Enthusiasm is really important and while I love my career, I need a constant self-pep talk to be excited about inspiring others. With exciting lessons, I get excited again -- but with AI and other changing tech/tools I sometimes get tired in solving problems and trying to find innovative ways to make my students critical thinkers and use creativity, variety in lessons.
Professional Development: While I hate having to re-certify every 5 years, most of my mandatory professional development has been finding opportunities within my own interest areas. We don't really have mandatory professional development in my small district. It is a smorgasbord of choice, which I appreciate. But any in-services, have not really been practical for me. Data dives, etc -- blah. Not exciting, nor very applicable to teaching, except teaching to the test.
So I would say the best professional development for me has been long-term, on-going professional development that has enabled me to complete entire units -- like the senior capstone experience. Partnering with a community liaison as a culminating across-the-curriculum real-world project has been the best. I left with a real plan and ready to implement and felt like it was researched and drowning in evidenced learning.
Id have to say my strength is spirit. I love teaching, and seeing the kids everyday. I love watching them learn and grow. I love when they reach a goal or milestone and their faces just light up! I think spirit can also be a weakness as the demands placed on us are not allowing me to do many of the fun things with the kids but more standards etc that we must meet so hurry up and teach before we can enjoy.
ReplyDeleteProfessional development- i would say most of the scheduled, mandatory Professional development is worthless. I benefit by finding things that actually pertaining to my class and students much more beneficial. Just as a classroom of students all learn differently and at different rates and in different subjects so do teachers. There is not a one size fits all fir Professional development.
David Weston, in his TED talk “Unleashing Greatness In Teachers”, shares the ingredients that make great teachers. Of the four main ingredients described, which is your strength? How? Why?
ReplyDeleteI would say that my strength is perception. I try to be very mindful of how my students are doing as kids. I think, that is a lost thought in education. We are working with kids. They are going to mess up and make mistakes, but it our job to help them do better the next time. I really try to check in with my students who are struggling and with students who may need a boost in their day.
And, which is your weakness? What can you do to strengthen this weakness?
I think my weakness can be my spirit. I am not very good at keeping things hidden. I am a real big baby when it comes to not feeling so hot, but I hate taking days off. My students usually very quickly notice if I am not feeling the best. I try to keep myself moving and find things to keep me motivated. Very little sitting on those days, that just makes it worse for me personally.
Has the mandatory professional development that you have participated in recently made you a better teacher? How? Or, why not?
I think it is about 50/50 for me personally. I think timing is key on professionaly development. For instance, if we are getting new curriculum, I want training on that new curriculum before I have to use it. If I am given training on a curriculum I have already had to stumble through and I find my own way around it, I am going to check out. Sometimes, professional development can also be overwhelming. They give you all these "tools" that can be used, but then don't give us any time to work to implement those "tools." A lot of the things learned in professional development is lost because we are not given the opportunity to put into practice.
Has the professional development that you have sought out on your own made you a better teacher? How? Or, why not?
Yes, the professional development I have done on my own does give the time to put into practice. It also focuses more on things that pertain to me because I pick them. I am going to be more interested in topics that I picked as opposed to topics picked for me.
David Weston, in his TED talk “Unleashing Greatness In Teachers”, shares the ingredients that make great teachers. Of the four main ingredients described, which is your strength? How? Why? And, which is your weakness? What can you do to strengthen this weakness? Has the mandatory professional development that you have participated in recently made you a better teacher? How? Or, why not? Has the professional development that you have sought out on your own made you a better teacher? How? Or, why not?
ReplyDeleteI would say my strength is perception - I really try hard to get to know and understand my students. I work in a resource room, so generally I work with small groups. This allows me to really get to know each of their strengths and needs, personality traits, things that motivate them, things that trigger behaviors. I also try to ask them daily about how their morning was or to tell me something they did over the weekend. I try to relate to them about things that are important to them on a personal level like a hobby they enjoy or their favorite pet. I think my weakness is probably knowledge. It's not that I don't know the curriculum and material, it's just that I am constantly working with different grade levels, ages and ability, so the curriculum is constantly changing throughout the day. In addition, we just got a new Language Arts curriculum, so I am still trying to navigate through it. This will strengthen with time and working with it. I always feel better after getting the first year of a new curriculum out of the way. Then you kind of know the best practices and what did and didn't work. What to focus more on the next year. I personally like to seek out my own professional development that addresses what I need for my position as a Special Education teacher. Most of the professional development is geared towards the general education teacher.
I feel that my strength is Spirit as I totally love my work and what I do day in and day out. I have a different role than most and different from when I began my career. I get to work with various ages of students and students at all different levels in a one-on-one testing environment. I really enjoy getting to know each student and visiting with them before and after the testing session. I feel that I am able to put each one at ease and feel that I get the best effort out of each one of them in the short time that I have them. I think that my greatest weakness is perception as I sometimes process things a little more slowly - I do have to work on this I realize. I feel that I have self-induced and self-diagnosed ADHD at times as my mind will go a million miles per hour with all that I need to do/accomplish in the day or week. I have started to take some time to look at my calendar and to meditate in the mornings and I do feel that this is beneficial in my ability to give my attention where it needs to be in the moment- but I continue to be a work in progress.
ReplyDeleteOur professional development has changed a lot since covid and does not really apply to me, but I have been reading more professional books on my own and I do feel that I am able to gain information from each of these that can be used. I also plan to continue this practice as I continue to try to keep my brain fresh and excited. I have ordered new standardized tests recently which also presents the chance to stay out of a rut and to continually learn and grow in my role.
I believe my strength is spirit. I stay positive, motivated, and deeply focused on child development. My passion for meeting children where they are and supporting their growth drives my daily work and helps create a supportive, encouraging classroom environment.
ReplyDeleteMy weakness is knowledge, particularly continuing to expand my expertise in specialized strategies and evolving best practices. I work to strengthen this by engaging in ongoing learning, practicing new skills, and placing myself in new opportunities that promote professional growth. Mandatory professional development has generally not made me a better teacher because much of it does not directly apply to Early Childhood Special Education. However, the professional development I seek out on my own has significantly improved my teaching because I choose topics that are relevant to my students and aligned with my interests, making the learning meaningful and immediately applicable.
As a School Counselor, I believe my greatest strength among the four ingredients David Weston describes, Perception, Knowledge, Practice, and Spirit, is spirit. I would choose spirit as my strength because I bring energy, passion, and genuine care to my role every day. I am deeply motivated by helping students navigate challenges, build confidence, and reach their potential. My enthusiasm for supporting students and advocating for their social, emotional, and academic growth runs deep. This commitment allows me to persevere through complex situations and remain fully engaged with the students and families I serve. I would say that my weakness is perception. To strengthen this, I can focus on actively listening, asking, clarifying questions, and seeking feedback. Additionally, observing and reflecting on diverse classroom and school interactions can help me better understand different viewpoints and respond more effectively to the needs of all stakeholders.
ReplyDeleteThe mandatory professional development I have participated in has made me a better School Counselor because it emphasizes the interconnectedness of all aspects of education. It reminds me of how curriculum, teaching practices, policies, and support systems work together and how collaboration with other educational professionals is essential, even when the material doesn’t seem directly applicable to my role. This broader perspective helps me advocate more effectively for students and integrate supports that align with classroom and school goals.
The professional development I have sought out on my own has been particularly impactful because it keeps me current on School Counseling concerns and evolving student needs. For example, training in mental health interventions, social-emotional learning, and college and career readiness allows me to tailor strategies, connect students to appropriate resources, and anticipate challenges. These self-directed learning opportunities also equip me with creative approaches for supporting diverse learners and help me stay informed about best practices in counseling, ensuring that I provide the most meaningful, proactive support for every student.
In his TED Talk “Unleashing Greatness in Teachers,” David Weston explains that great teaching is developed through several key ingredients, including deep subject knowledge, understanding how students learn, continually improving through reflection and collaboration, and strong professional support systems.
ReplyDeleteOne ingredient that I believe would be a strength for me is the willingness to reflect and continually improve my teaching. I value thinking about what worked well in a lesson and what could be improved. By reflecting on student engagement, understanding, and feedback, I can adjust my teaching strategies to better meet students’ needs. This mindset is important because teaching is not something that is perfected all at once—it is a skill that grows over time through experience and reflection.
A weakness for me might be consistently collaborating with other teachers to improve practice. While collaboration can be very valuable, it can sometimes be difficult to find the time or opportunities to work closely with colleagues. To strengthen this area, I could make a greater effort to participate in professional learning communities, share ideas with colleagues, and observe other teachers’ classrooms. Learning from other educators can provide new perspectives and strategies that I might not develop on my own.
In terms of professional development, mandatory professional development does not always lead to meaningful improvement in teaching. Sometimes it is very general and not directly connected to the challenges teachers face in their own classrooms. Because of this, it may not always have a strong impact on teaching practices.
However, professional development that teachers seek out on their own can often be more beneficial. When teachers choose workshops, courses, or resources that align with their interests and classroom needs, they are more motivated to apply what they learn. Self-directed professional development allows teachers to focus on strategies that will directly help their students.
Overall, Weston’s message highlights that becoming a great teacher is not about natural talent alone. Instead, it requires continuous learning, reflection, collaboration, and support, which allow teachers to grow and better serve their students over time.
My strength would definitely be my spirit. I am a naturally bubbly person and try to also put on a smile and greet my kiddos every morning and let them know how happy I am they made it to school. I work in special education so I have small groups of kids that I get very close with every year and I always make it a point to get excited about their wins and successes because a lot of them don't have people at home that care.
ReplyDeleteMy weakness I would say is knowledge. I teach mostly in the middle school, but the last few years have also taken on high school. Since I do Special education I get kiddos from all different classes coming to me for assistance and a lot of that content is new to me.
Mandatory professional development has sometimes feels hit-or-miss, but it has helped me improve in areas like classroom management and using tech tools effectively. The PD I’ve sought out on my own—special education conferences and building relationships with my students—has been much more impactful because it’s directly relevant to my students and interests.
My strength would be spirit. I love my job and I love working with students. I am always trying to find a new innovative way to help my students learn. I want learning to be fun and enjoyable for students. I show excitement while teaching lessons to catch students attentions. My weakness would be practice or perceptions. I work in a small group setting so I don't feel I have the practice skills that are needed to work with a classroom setting. In smaller groups I have the perception I need with my students but working in a classroom with 20 or more students at a time would be a challenge for me. I need to learn how to see everyone and use my teacher voice for larger groups. In order to strengthen this weakness I feel working with larger groups of students would help me enhance the areas of weakness I have. I feel that some PD helps you become a better teacher and other PD is not as effective. If the PD is related to what you are teaching there is always a benefit buy when it isn't related to what you need it is hard to find something to get out of it. When you are not interested in the PD you also tend to tone out what you are suppose to be learning. To make anything beneficial you have to put in 100% to get all the benefits of the PD. Has the professional development that you have sought out on your own made you a better teacher? I believe that the PD that I have sought out has made me a better teacher. When you are learning about something that will benefit you and your students you are more likely to put all your effort into learning. I seek out PD that I am interested in versus what the state thinks we need to take in order to be a good teacher.
ReplyDeleteone of my strengths is my commitment to long-term growth. I value continuous improvement and understand that becoming a great teacher is a gradual process rather than something achieved through one-time efforts. I actively reflect on my lessons, think about what worked and what didn’t, and look for ways to refine my approach. This mindset allows me to stay open to change and continuously evolve in my teaching practice.
ReplyDeleteA weakness for me is consistently engaging in deliberate practice. While I reflect on my teaching, I don’t always take the next step of breaking down specific skills and intentionally practicing them in a focused, structured way. To strengthen this weakness, I can begin by setting specific, measurable goals for my teaching—for example, improving questioning techniques or student engagement strategies—and then seeking feedback from peers or instructional coaches.
mandatory professional development, it has had mixed effectiveness in making me a better teacher. Some sessions have provided useful strategies or fresh perspectives that I’ve been able to apply in my classroom. However, much of the mandatory PD tends to be broad and not always tailored to my specific needs or teaching context. In contrast, the professional development I have sought out on my own has been more beneficial. When I choose my own learning opportunities, they are usually aligned with my interests, goals, and the challenges I face in my classroom. This makes the learning more relevant and immediately applicable.
David Weston, in his TED talk “Unleashing Greatness In Teachers”, shares the ingredients that make great teachers. Of the four main ingredients described, which is your strength? How? Why? And, which is your weakness? What can you do to strengthen this weakness? Has the mandatory professional development that you have participated in recently made you a better teacher? How? Or, why not? Has the professional development that you have sought out on your own made you a better teacher? How? Or, why not?
ReplyDeleteI think as years go on what we become good at changes. My younger self would never say spirit. I think my spirit affects so many aspects of my classroom. The love of teaching and the love of kids leads my teaching each day. I think I have a great relationship with my students and they know my expectations of them so I truly believe due to this it helps them become the best they can be.
Of the four areas I would say my weakness is perception. I think I do struggle with reaching all learners in the ways they learn best. In a large class it's hard to do. I also think it's important to reflect after lessons or activities and make changes for the students. I sometimes do and then there are times I run out of time. To help my future self - I really need to make the change immediately even if it's writing quickly on a sticky note of what to change for specific learners so next time I use the activity I can change it up.
I love going to the math and science conference every year. I always come home with refreshing ideas/lessons/activites.
I think my strength is my spirit and enthusiasm for what I do and watching kids grow into young adults and getting for their next adventure after high.
ReplyDeleteI think my weakness is knowledge because I learn something new every day about mental health and knowing when to refer a kid when the issue is over my head. I am getting better at asking for help and advice when I need to. I am getting better with this by watching videos, going to conferences, calling a colleague for advise, reading books and articles about mental health issues.
The last professional development really helped because all of the counselors we able to collaborate with each other and talk about issues they were dealing with. My school is very helpful in allowing me to attend any conference that I would like to go to to get more information and to listen to other professionals and how they handle certain topics.
David Weston shared his 4 main ingredients that make a great teacher. Of the four, my strength is perception. I can read a classroom well. I can read the body language of the students and readily determine if they are engaged in learning or distracted. I can pick out the leaders in a group of students as opposed to those who are simply following others' lead. By being perceptive of students' body language, I can determine if a student is feeling uncertain and needs further instruction, or if a student is in a position to assist his/her classmates.
ReplyDeleteMy weakness is practice. Time is always a factor, and following through with change is difficult. I may have a desire to try a new teaching/learning strategy within the classroom, but time to develop and implement changes is not always available, and then I fall back on doing what I've done in the past.
Professional development that I've sought is much more beneficial than mandatory professional development. When a class is mandatory, I find that I put in the time simply because it's required. When I choose my own classes, I take time to evaluate which development classes will apply to my grade level and personal interests.
I would say that spirit is my strength. I am not a morning person, but once I get to school and see the kids, I wake up and am ready to tackle the day. I try to remain positive and encouraging towards my students and my co-workers. I work in a really great hallway with awesome co-workers and we just jive well. We are positive, motivated and very supportive towards each other. It really makes for a great year!
ReplyDeleteMy weakness would be knowledge. I don't even like to admit that becuase I try my best to stay on top of things, but we all know that education is always changing. I used to teach at a middle school and am now currently at an elementary (been there for 8 years). When I got this elementary job, I wasn't trained to teach students who to read and write. I was more or less thrown into the mix and told "good luck." To this day, I am having to teach myself strategies and also make sure that I collaborate often with my co-workers regarding our curriculum.
The mandatory professional development in our district has gotten better as the years have gone on and people have transitioned into different roles. We focused on PLCs this year, and last, and it's been helpful. My current PLC is taking our reading curriculm, and doing the Backwards Design model. It is eye opening and we've had great conversations around it.
The professional development that I have sought on my own (i.e. these USF book studies) have been amazing. I love to read and have really enjoyed the book studies! They have given me a different perspective in so many areas and the knowledge that I have gained, I take back to my co-workers and share with them.