I personally think that being honest with students is very important. By being honest to them, we validate their capacity to understand a situation. This in turn builds their confidence as they see themselves as someone who can critically think and analyze a situation and take rational decision. Also, being honest with students increases the level of respect which the students have for the instructor.

I complete agree with you. Acting is off-course a part of teaching. I realized it after attending a VT GTA workshop. I think that is why I rehearse my presentation before taking my class. That also helps me to realize how the story is incomplete for the class and thus help me to find examples and good explanation of the content and to clear the communication about the activities in class.

Yesim, I agree that the amount of coercive power which teachers have in classrooms is going down, but I still think they have a lot of power to psychologically impact students through their comments or attitude toward them. I understand you have called that as the responsibility but I still think that gives some power to the students.

I was sooooo not cool in high school, so I feel you. And being authentic has its advantages, so I agree with what you’ve said in this post. It’s hard enough to be me everyday, I can’t imagine trying to be someone else for a few hours a week.

Just yesterday, on a conversation about race/racism/being an ally, I told my class that “I am probably the whitest white person you will ever meet, but…” and went on to explain how being an ally to groups you don’t belong to works.
It is a fine line. I’m naturally goofy, but I will not hesitate to get my class back in line if I have to. My policies were called strict on the first day of class, I take a no nonsense approach to things in my syllabus. but I still manage to be personable and give students real-time feedback that will help them mature and hopefully leave my class just a little bit more grown up than when they walked in.

“…now it becomes clear that what really matters is the fact that, to be a teacher, you should expose yourself, put your very energy to it, make it “alive” with who you are.”

True story. If I can’t be my authentic self in a classroom, then why am I doing it? Iit’s already hard enough to prepare lessons for them, I don’t want to prepare a lesson on who I should be for myself on top of all that.

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“…now it becomes clear that what really matters is the fact that, to be a teacher, you should expose yourself, put your very energy to it, make it “alive” with who you are.”

True story. If I can’t be my authentic self in a classroom, then why am I doing it? Iit’s already hard enough to prepare lessons for them, I don’t want to prepare a lesson on who I should be for myself on top of all that.

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Hi Bernardo, thanks for the ice break and alternative supplement suggestions. I totally agree with you. Alternative way of explanation not only beneficial to students, but also to teachers. It makes me a better communicator. The essential part of teaching is communication. If we can explain things through different ways in teaching, then we can also do that with our colleagues and co-authors.

Hmm, I was told early on that I did not need to be seen as the expert in the room. Jokingly I would hear that teachers are only a chapter ahead of their students. These are extremes but I would urge you to not submit to the pressure of being the fount of all related knowledge. In my case, I like to think of teaching as an opportunity to be a facilitator. Making the content accessible through my own experiences and choices. While questions after questions will be thrown at you, It is ok to not know somethings. In that case it may be an opportunity for everyone to learn. Great point about getting shaped by what the students may need. I have found that to be very true in my experiences as a TA.

Ashish,
I would encourage you to review strengths more. This is not a personality test, it is very different. There is a handbook that accompanies the assessment which highlights the idea behind the assessment and it is far from a personality test. You hit on that point exactly, tests like these are static, however the research has shown that the strengths that are highlighted through the gallup method are those with you for life. That is, an individual evolves into and around their strengths as opposed to evolving and changing beside ones strengths.

Also, I only highlighted my top five strengths, as I feel that was all that was necessary. Gallup orders all of the traits for you after you have completed the assessment. In the handbook, Gallup emphasizes analyzing the shadow side of ones strengths. That is, what traits of an achiever can get in the way to success. I feel that the idea of a shadow side of a strength really addresses your point about only focusing on these five strengths.

Check out the research, you be not be disappointed.

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