Austeja Landsbergiene, in her TED talk “Can Teachers Change The World?” states “Teaching is not a profession. Teaching is life.” Do you agree? Choose a quote from the video that you agree with and think needs to be shared with other audiences. Who needs to hear this?
I very much agree that "teaching is life". An occupation as teacher defines who a person is, although it can be taken in many directions. I find summer months become hard because it takes me out of routine and what I love doing. I think students very much know what teachers love their jobs and they respond positively to that. Austeja Landsbergiene made an astute point that I feel stood out. Attitude is most important, not only for the audience of new hires but for those who make teaching their career. Teachers need to be able to adapt and avoid or at least be cognizant of the pitfalls she calls demotivation due to the sometimes lack of appreciation and rules/regulations that diminish teaching to single measures. Teach with passion and for purpose.
ReplyDeleteAusteja Landsbergiene, in her TED talk “Can Teachers Change The World?” states “Teaching is not a profession. Teaching is life.” Do you agree?
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree that teaching is life. When I'm not at school, I'm preparing for the next school day or the next week or the next year. During the summer, I'm still working on school things - getting ready for the next school year. Preparing for the next group of students.
Choose a quote from the video that you agree with and think needs to be shared with other audiences. Who needs to hear this?
"We have to understand that if we want our children to be lifelong learners, we have to be lifelong learners ourselves." Teachers need to hear this. There is always new learning that teachers are taking on such as learning a new curriculum or learning instructional practices. It can sometimes feel overwhelming and frustrating. This is a great reminder to us teachers that we need to be lifelong learners so our children are.
Austeja Landsbergiene, in her TED talk “Can Teachers Change The World?” states “Teaching is not a profession. Teaching is life.” Do you agree? Choose a quote from the video that you agree with and think needs to be shared with other audiences. Who needs to hear this?
ReplyDeleteI do agree with this quote. I find myself thinking about my students or lesson plans over the summer, weekends, holidays. I do love what I do so it is more a way of life to me than just a job. One quote I loved from the ted Talk was "If we want our children to be lifelong learners, we have to be lifelong learners ourselves. This one really stood out to be because I get in a mindset sometimes where I want to give up because something is hard. I am always on my students about this so it made me think about how I tend to do the same thing. If I want them to give it their all, I need to do the same myself.
Do you agree? Choose a quote from the video that you agree with and think needs to be shared with other audiences. Who needs to hear this?
ReplyDeleteI do agree that teaching is life. We all teach everyday. We have just been blinded to the fact that we do. I was supposed to be working on this book study today, but I had a battery die in my car. Well, I ended up sitting by an older man for quite some time. We ended up talking. I got him talking about farming. I was having a bad day. He didn’t tell me anything I did not already know, but I didn’t tell him. He was enjoying teaching me. So I asked questions. I pushed the conversation new directions. I lied. I did learn. I wasn’t aware that we had French heritage around the Turton, SD area.
We are always teaching and learning. If we had more respect taught early on for the idea of teaching and learning, I think our society would be happier. We all can teach each other things. Sometimes it’s about history or experiences or culture. Other times we just need to listen to the soothing sound of an older former farmer’s voice because it reminds you of the chaos of your childhood, and the story of a cow falling through a skylight makes you smile a bit as you remember a bad winter. We all have things to teach.
Austeja Landsbergiene, in her TED talk “Can Teachers Change The World?” states “Teaching is not a profession. Teaching is life.” Do you agree? I do agree, to an extent. I just got done with the "Fewer Things Better" book study, which assures us that teaching can be "just a job" and we need to make time for and prioritize the rest of our life alongside teaching so we don't burnout too fast. In theory, and in its best, most idealistic way - teaching is life. As teachers, we are lifelong learners, and we love our content and working with kids. It is the rest of the admin that bogs us down and burns us out. If we take on teaching as the only part of our identity, "and work beyond contract hours without asking for extra pay" (like the RCS teachers do, as mentioned in this section of the Ron Clark Molasses Classes book) - we are destined to burnout fast.
ReplyDeleteChoose a quote from the video that you agree with and think needs to be shared with other audiences. Who needs to hear this?
"Learning is joyful" This I agree with on a personal level - I love learning new things, having a beginner mindset is enriching and humbling and can teach us so many things - no matter what it is we are trying to learn, you have to be bad at something and make many attempts before you will come up with something great. Learning is joyful indicates that we must lean into and enjoy the process of learning, and we should bring this idea to our students too. Often they get frustrated when they don't understand something straightaway, and it takes encouraging on our part for them to build confidence and continue pursuing the goal of mastery. I think all people need to hear this quote! Don't expect to be a master at something without going through the difficult part of learning first. Learning is not effortless.
I agree with the statement that teaching is life. I always say Teaching isn't what I do, it's who I am. It isn't just a job to me, it is a passion. It is something that in my world I am lost without.
ReplyDeleteA quote that is agree with is "If we want our children to be lifetime learners, we have to be lifetime learners as well." I love when I can say to my students, "I don't know" because then we can look something up together and learn together. They notice when I don't know every answer. They then see that I am still willing to learn.
I do agree that teaching is life. Even though I teach during the school year, I am still teaching and learning everyday, year-round. I am teaching my daughter how to drive and apply for jobs. I am teaching my son how to cook and clean. My husband is teaching me how to build shelves and fix a fence. There are teaching and student moments in our lives everyday, it doesn't just happen in the classroom.
ReplyDelete"The life goes beyond the life in the classroom." I think that the parents of my students need to hear and understand this. In 3rd grade reading and math start to become more complex. Parents don't understand that their child's reading and math struggles in 3rd grade are going to affect them in their futures. Driving, applying for jobs, working, college, careers, and the military. All of these things require basic reading and math skills that they need to grasp in elementary school.
Austeja Landsbergiene, in her TED talk “Can Teachers Change The World?” states “Teaching is not a profession. Teaching is life.” Do you agree? Choose a quote from the video that you agree with and think needs to be shared with other audiences. Who needs to hear this?
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with teaching is life - if it is being done well !! I liked her quote that stated "teachers need to love what they do & they need to have grit and perseverance". I agree whole-heartedly with this statement. The best classrooms and the most productive learning is fostered in classrooms where it is clear to the students that the teacher loves what they are doing. I find it humorous (but truthful) when Austeja points out that "you chose to be a teacher - if you did not have the passion for teaching - then you should choose something else". Simply stated - but effectively accurate. The best teachers most definitely have a passion not only for their subject area - but more importantly for sharing that passion with their students. And - i believe it's ok for both young & veteran teachers to hear this message - "if you are not passionate about what you are doing - then perhaps find your passion somewhere other than inside of a school building".
Austeja Landsbergiene, in her TED talk “Can Teachers Change The World?” states “Teaching is not a profession. Teaching is life.” Do you agree? Choose a quote from the video that you agree with and think needs to be shared with other audiences. Who needs to hear this?
ReplyDeleteI do agree that teaching is not a profession and that teaching is life. We need to continually show up for our kids. We need to be at their activities, games and make the effort to show them that they are worth it and that it doesn't always happen from 8 AM to 3 PM.
The quote I agree with from the video is this:
"If we want our students to be life long learners, we have to be life long learners ourselves."
I have worked in three different districts and in each one there are people that are 'done' learning. They don't want to try new things. They don't want to stretch or make an effort to improve. The students notice. They talk. I've heard it all before. I want these co-workers and former coworkers to hear this and know that their impact is being made but it may not be as strong as you think. We can and need to all do better. We need to make the effort and be lifelong learners striving to be our best.
I completely agree with this statement. I heard someone say once that teaching is so different from other occupations because when you ask someone what their occupation is, they will usually say... "I work (insert place of employment), however as a teacher you answer it saying "I AM a teacher" being a teacher is who you are, not just a place you work at.
ReplyDeleteThe quote from the video I agree with is "feeling lost is often a chance for a good beginning." I believe this can apply to anyone at any point in their life whether it be in their personal life or their occupation. I believe everyone needs to hear this and really think about it when times get hard or when they do feel "lost".
I do agree that teaching is life, especially if you are a parent. I still remember all of the excellent teachers I had not only in school, but later in life as well. I remember many of the ways great teachers taught me various things.
ReplyDeleteI also think that learning is life. There are so many things I have learned since college- about well, everything!
I also agree that "we have to adapt and change as we go". Change is everywhere. It's important to embrace it and help kids change as they learn too.
Austeja Landsbergiene, in her TED talk “Can Teachers Change The World?” states “Teaching is not a profession. Teaching is life.” Do you agree? Choose a quote from the video that you agree with and think needs to be shared with other audiences. Who needs to hear this?
ReplyDeleteI agree with her statement because for me it is. I continue to think about and improve the way I teach because the students continue to change and need new ways of learning.
I do agree that teachers can change lives, but I also believe students change lives. The relationships built in the classroom are powerful and transformative for everyone involved. Teaching extends far beyond academics—it shapes confidence, character, and the way children see themselves and the world. One quote that stood out to me was, “Teachers need to see that there is a bigger purpose to what they do than just inside the classroom.” I think this message needs to be heard by educators, administrators, and policymakers. Teachers need the reminder that their daily interactions matter deeply, and policymakers need to understand that education is about more than test scores. Recognizing the larger purpose of teaching can inspire educators to continue investing in their students’ growth, knowing their influence reaches far beyond the classroom walls.
ReplyDeleteAusteja Landsbergiene, in her TED talk “Can Teachers Change The World?” states “Teaching is not a profession. Teaching is life.” Do you agree? Choose a quote from the video that you agree with and think needs to be shared with other audiences. Who needs to hear this?
ReplyDeleteI do agree with this statement. Teaching is not just my profession, it is what I do and I love it. I usually say to other people, "I get paid to play games with kids". Now some of that statement is true; however, even teaching physical education is so much more than just playing games. I teach students cooperation, sportsmanship, kindness. In addition to teaching them how to respond when things don't go our way. I teach students how to manage their emotions in a respectful way. Teachers have chosen a career that helps shape and mold our society. Teaching is life.
"It's so much better for a teacher to leave the profession than to hate it and stay in it." I think this is something that some people (educators) need to hear. There are some teachers that I feel like are just crabby and really don't enjoy teaching or even enjoy their students. If that is they case, they should not be in education. It would be better that they leave the profession. I know that this sounds harsh, but teachers have such a huge impact on students and their lives. Our job is to motivate and encourage students to learn, to find excitement in life; not to yell at them constantly.
Austeja Landsbergiene, in her TED talk “Can Teachers Change The World?” states “Teaching is not a profession. Teaching is life.” Do you agree? Choose a quote from the video that you agree with and think needs to be shared with other audiences. Who needs to hear this?
ReplyDeleteI do agree with this statement. Being in a small community I definitely feel this. Your teaching job doesn't stop when your contract hours end. Students will always come up to me whether it's after school hours, on the weekend, or all throughout the summer. They are always excited to see that you are in fact a real person outside of teaching.
The quote that stuck out to me was the one about being a life long learner. I always assumed that educators were always life long learners. However I have found out that many are not, unless they have to be. Education is always evolving. Students and their behaviors and mannerisms are always evolving. Being a life long learner is something that I try to encourage of my students. So many students now only want to learn what they need for the test and nothing else. At times I think they view it as a waste of time to learn anything that they aren't going to be tested on.
"Teaching is a life," is the quote that I agree with. I think as a teacher we all feel this way. Teaching and learning are a lifelong process. Look at me, retired and still taking classes. I also sub because going back into the school and interacting with the students is something I miss. They teach me so much. Just the other day one of the girls said, "let me help you Mrs. Biersbach use your calendar on your phone." They have so much to share with us.
ReplyDeleteThere are some teachers who do not have an open-door policy or always complaining but you just continue to listen and smile on.
The quote "Teaching is not a profession. Teaching is life." is something that I agree with. People who have a true passion for working with kids and helping them succeed in life are meant to be teachers or working with kids in some capacity. It becomes your whole persona and something that carries with you as you grow older. A quote that I really enjoyed in this video was "Do not give up. Even when it seems very very difficult." As I'm nearing the end of my first year as a school counselor, this quote is something so simple yet so true. Even on hard days when it feels like I have no idea what I'm doing or questioning if I'm doing things right, it's always important and a good reminder to never give up because things will get better. As well as through the lens of a teacher to not give up when the classroom may seem more difficult on some days. Never giving up and always trying to put forth our best effort is something I always tell the students too whether it's with a certain homework assignment, a test, a sport or extracurricular activity they participate in, anything where they have to complete something to the best of their ability, reiterating to never give up is such a key and long-lasting influence that they can hold onto.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, I do believe that teachers do change the world, and they do it not just through lessons but through example. I would also add that it’s not just teachers that I believe do this, it’s all of those who play a part in the education of our students. I do agree with the quote, “Teaching is not a profession. Teaching is life,”. What we do outside the classroom, how we handle challenges, show empathy, and pursue our own growth, all send powerful messages to our students. Our actions in and outside of the classroom and school model the values, resilience, and curiosity we hope to instill in our students and show that learning is not confined to a building, schedule or a curriculum.
ReplyDeleteAnother quote that stood out to me was, “If we want our children to be lifetime learners, we have to be lifetime learners as well.” This applies not only to educators but to parents, administrators, and mentors, to all who are role models and set examples for our students. By continuing to learn, reflect, and grow, we demonstrate to students that curiosity and self-improvement are lifelong and ongoing pursuits. Modeling this mindset encourages students to see learning as an ongoing journey, preparing them to approach life with adaptability, confidence, and a passion for growth. I really believe that although our words are important, our example often teaches more.
I do agree with the quote to a degree. You must find a delicate balance between your life and teaching and the two can very easily merge into one, where you can't separate the rest of your life from teaching. That may work for some, but for me, I have to have a balance or I will wear out my family when teaching consumes too much.
ReplyDelete"So it's grit and it's perseverance. It's not just love." Early in my teaching career, when I was much younger and people would ask me what I did and I told them I was a teacher, the next question would be about what age group I taught. When I said I was a middle school teacher, most assumed I taught elementary age, they would look at me with a look that said that I must be crazy. Who could love those awkward crazy middle schoolers? This is where the grit and perseverance come in and love is not enough to be successful in this career life.
Teaching isn’t just something I do; it’s the air I’ve breathed my whole life. Both of my parents were teachers when I was born. My dad became a principal on my first day of kindergarten, and then a superintendent on my first day of high school. I was put in charge of a reading group in first grade, and I’ve now been a teacher for 31 years, including the last six spent leading workshops and mentoring teachers across Ohio. Teaching is my life. So when Austeja Landsbergiene says, “Teaching is not a profession. Teaching is life,” it doesn’t feel like a metaphor to me—it feels like a pretty literal description of how I grew up and who I became.
ReplyDeleteOne idea from her talk that sticks with me is her focus on the memories and mindsets we create for kids. It’s not the title on the door or how many meetings we sit through that changes a child; it’s the tiny, ordinary moments that quietly tell them who they are. The way we react when they blow a test. The tone we use when they ask a “basic” question. The energy we bring when we introduce something hard and say, “This is going to stretch you—and you can do this.” Those little interactions pile up into a story students tell themselves about whether they’re capable, whether they matter, and whether school is a place for them.
This is why I can’t separate “teacher me” from “regular me.” The way I talk in the hallway, the feedback I give on a lab report, the structure of a group task, even the conversations I have with adults in my workshops—those are all places where teaching-as-life shows up. I’m not just delivering content; I’m helping to build or rebuild a student’s (or a teacher’s) sense of what they can do next. That hits close to home when I think about being the kid in charge of a reading group in first grade and the teacher who now stands in front of a room of educators, asking them to rethink how they design struggle, support, and success.
Who needs to hear this? First, the teachers who feel like they’re drowning in standards, emails, and behavior referrals. It’s easy to start believing that the only thing that counts is what gets uploaded, recorded, or reported. They need the reminder that the quiet, human moments—the way they greet students, how they handle a meltdown, how they frame a retake—are often the real difference-makers. Second, the people making decisions far from the classroom: administrators, policymakers, anyone who reduces teaching to metrics and compliance. If teaching is life, then any system that ignores relationships, reflection, and authentic learning is missing the heart of the work. And finally, families. Seeing teachers as partners in shaping character, resilience, and curiosity—not just grades—changes the way home and school pull together for kids.
I feel indifferent about "teaching is life"- I think it has a HUGE impact (probably 50%), but I think there are other things that also impact a child's life drastically (home/parents, what is going on in society as a whole, peers)
ReplyDelete"It's so much better for a teacher to leave the profession than to hate it and stay in it." I think this is very important, as it will impact the students negatively/ possibly the school as whole. Don't stick around if it's not for you! We need educators that want to be here- the kids can feel it!
“Teaching is not a profession. Teaching is life.” I would agree with this statement. I think everyone should hear the speakers quote “If we want our students to be lifelong learners, we have to be lifelong learners ourselves.” I enjoy learning new things; I also enjoy sharing that joy of learning with my students. As a parent, I want my child to see me modeling both learning new things and the perseverance that it takes to broaden my horizons.
ReplyDeleteAs a high school history teacher and coach, I agree with this statement and I see it as an accurate reflection of what the job becomes when it is done with purpose and commitment. Teaching can be overwhelming as it does not end when the bell rings, it carries into lesson planning, building relationships with students, coaching responsibilities, and even how we view the world outside of school.
ReplyDeleteOne quote from the video that stood out to me was, “Passion is one of the most important things to describe a great teacher.” This connects strongly to my own experience in both the classroom and on the field. Whether I am teaching a history lesson or coaching football, students and athletes can quickly tell if the energy is real, just like I can when at in-service and the presenter doesnt have passion the speaker doesnt, you can tell. Passion is not just a personality trait in education, it is the foundation that drives engagement, discipline, and trust.
I chose this quote because it reinforces something I have learned over time, content is important, but energy is what makes learning stick. In history, I can explain events, causes, and significance, but if I do it without enthusiasm, students are less likely to connect with it. The same applies in coaching, effort, intensity, and attitude are contagious, and they shape the culture of the entire group.
This message is important for new teachers entering the profession, as well as educators who may be feeling disconnected from the impact they can have. It is also something administrators and community members need to hear, because teaching is often viewed as a structured workday rather than a lived commitment to students. When people understand that teaching is life, they begin to understand why educators invest so much of themselves into their students.
Teaching is definitely a way of life. Teaching does not end with the school day. It goes without saying that teachers need to prepare lesson plans, grade and work outside of class time. Most teachers are also coaching, serving as advisors or proctoring after-school clubs. Teachers need to attend extracurricular activities and see students outside the school. I feel strongly that this is a non-negotiable. Good teachers are seen at all kinds of different events. The bad teachers are slinging on their backpacks one minute after the bell rings and leaving and then complaining about students/parents and blaming everyone but themselves for the problems in their classrooms.
ReplyDeleteI like the quote that teachers need to be lifelong learners. Teachers need to keep up to date on education and brain research. Just as importantly, they need to continue to read books in the field that they teach in. Good teachers are passionate. Good history teachers read history books because they are passionate about their subject. I don't see how someone can be passionate about their subject and not read books on that subject.
Austeja Landsbergiene, in her TED talk “Can Teachers Change The World?” states “Teaching is not a profession. Teaching is life.” Do you agree? Choose a quote from the video that you agree with and think needs to be shared with other audiences. Who needs to hear this?
ReplyDeleteI completely agree! Teaching is all consuming especially during the school year. If I'm not at school working, I'm at home working on school things. Everywhere I go I'm looking for things that would work in my classroom to make the learning interesting and fun. Then in the summer I play catch up with all the things at school and home that I didn't have time for during the school year.
I chose the quote "Feeling lost is often a chance for a new beginning." I believe that so many people need to hear this. When people feel lost, some tend to spiral out of control. So much of life is all about perspective and how you choose to respond to a situation. I wish there was a way to hear these positive things whenever needed. Like asking Siri for advice :).
I agree - teaching is a life and not a profession. You have to pour your heart and soul into it and it involves your whole family, not just yourself. It is not just a regular 8 to 5 job with nights and weekends off. You have to be fully dedicated to be successful to meet the needs of your students and engage with them in a way that they will be successful. It definitely isn't for everyone.
ReplyDeleteA quote that I really loved was: "sometimes great teachers are in hiding". That would have been powerful for me to hear as a new teacher in the profession who needed some support. I think kids in college who are thinking about going in to teaching need to hear this, teachers who are having a rough day need to hear this, teachers who are new to the profession need to hear this. Everyone has greatness within them and it can be unlocked and having someone out there who is another educator that believes in you, can be all that you need to stick to it.