"Blood Alone Moves the Wheels of History" (- Dwight Schrute)

Hey there, readers! I hope you have been enjoying your read so far. This last blog post features the links to two very interesting TED talks from two truly inspiring teachers. I could tell you they are worth listening to, but honestly, there is only one way for you to know if I am right about that, and it is to give them a go! Enjoy!

Every Kid Needs a Champion (Rita Pierson)

(Link: TED (Youtube), Every Kid Needs a Champion (consulted this website on December 1st, 2021), [Online],  URL address: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFnMTHhKdkw)

This first TED Talk talks about the importance of motivation for young students. The speaker talks about how encouraging a kid rather than bringing them down can be crucial in their development and success. She also mentions how important it is for a teacher to support every single kid, even if they don't like all of them. She also insists a lot on the fact that encouragement should be provided to both succeeding and struggling students, as it is the best way for them to improve. It is the teacher's job to motivate their student and to be there for them. It is also important for an educator to show dedication and passion for their job, as it makes learning much more efficient and entertaining when a teacher looks like they love what they are doing. Those aspects should be taken into consideration by all education workers, as they stand out as being two of the most important ones of the profession. In brief, it is quite an inspirational monologue, and I would recommend it to anyone who envisions pursuing studies in the field of education.

Rita Pierson

Rita Pierson started working as an educator in 1972, a job she occupied for more than 40 years. She was born in Huston, Texas, and many people from her family also were working in the education domain, such as her mom who served as an inspiring role model for her. Rita was an inspiring and joyful woman who looked like she loved her profession. She was well-known for the many speeches she gave about how important it is for teachers to give their everything for their students, such as the one figured in this post. Unfortunately, she passed away in 2013 at the age of 61. Her legacy and lessons should and will never be forgotten.

(Source: Yes, inc., Why Educators Should Know Rita Pierson (consulted this website on December 1st, 2021), [Online],  URL address: https://www.yeseep.org/blog/why-educators-should-know-rita-pierson)

3 Rules to Spark Learning (Ramsey Musallam)

(Link: TED (Youtube), 3 Rules to Spark Learning (consulted this website on December 1st, 2021), [Online],  URL address:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsYHqfk0X2A&list=PLBFR_6zj1lVbRJZu0xIsdxYiz9hJBOCcb&index=10)

This second podcast covers a whole new approach to the fundamentals of teaching. Indeed, the speaker tells the audience 3 "rules" that should be followed by a teacher in order to make their students' learning way more efficient and enjoyable. These said rules cover 3 important aspects that can help to spark learning that go as follows: Students' curiosity and the importance of asking questions, the trial and error process and how it should be embraced by both the students and the teacher, and reflection, to be able to practice revision of what is done in the classroom. This conference is quite formative and interesting, as it gives great advice to anyone who would want to improve their learning skill. I would also recommend watching it to every future teacher there is out there.

Ramsey Musallam

Ramsey Musallam is a chemistry teacher at Sonoma Academy High School in Santa Rosa, California.  Prior to teaching science in high school, he served as a Science Instructor and Director of Inquiry and Innovation at Sacred Heart Cathedral. He also served as an adjunct professor of education at the University of San Fransisco and at Touro University. He graduated from the University of California Davis with a BS in Molecular and Cellular Biology and also obtained a MA and Ed.D in Education from the University of San Fransisco. At the time of his appearance on TED, he had been involved in the profession for 12 years already. Musallam looks like he is really invested in his job, which also seems to be his passion. He gives useful advice and brings up many interesting points on how both students and teachers should approach learning. His story is inspirational and it is really captivating to see how he was able to learn some lessons in his everyday life and use them afterward in his profession to improve his methods and become a better teacher.

(Source: Premier Speaker Bureau, Ramsey Musallam Bio (consulted this website on December 1st, 2021), [Online],  URL address: https://premierespeakers.com/ramsey-musallam/bio)

- Michael Scott (The Office season 2 episode 17)