Strength Finder 2.0

Developer



"People who are especially talented in the Developer theme recognize and cultivate the potential in others. They spot the signs of each small improvement and derive satisfaction from these improvements"


As soon as I read the description of this strength, Mean Girls staring Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey, and Lindsay Lohan came to mind. "I'm a pusher, Cady. I'm a pusher!" Developing people does not have to mean pushing them. Christ, through His love, develops us without pushing us. He reviles His desires for us to lead us and develop us into His purposes.


It has always been my dream to work in the inner-city where many children do not have what they need for their day-to-day, let alone ambitions for the future.


This strength will be key to achieving my goal of not only developing my students and allowing them to see their fullest potential but also developing the community around the school to its fullest potential.

Belief


"People who are especially talented in the Belief theme have certain core values that are unchanging. Out of these values emerges a defined purpose for their life. "

As a Christian Teacher, our beliefs need to be the core of our beings as individuals so that we can be a light to our students, colleagues, and administrators. As a teacher, using this strength allows for Christ to be a part of the classroom without breaking the "separating of Church and State". This strength is used in how you fulfill your responsibilities as a teacher and the standards you set for your students in the classroom.

Empathy


"People who are especially talented in the Empathy theme can sense the feelings of other people by imagining themselves in others’ lives or others’ situations."

Empathy is one very important gift for a teacher to have. It allows the teacher to take on the emotions and mind-set of others. As a teacher, you work with may different types of students who will face a wide range of struggles. I am able to use the gift of empathy to understand my students and their hearts so that I may reach them in their many different situations.

Responsibility


People who are especially talented in the Responsibility theme take psychological ownership of what they say they will do. They are committed to stable values such as honesty and loyalty. 

The gift of responsibility allows students to trust their teacher. A teacher who has this gift sets standards and goals for the classroom and is sure to follow through with those standards and goals. Outside of the classroom, this gift is even more valuable. It allows a teacher to stand up as a leader. Colleagues and administrators will see a person of "responsibility" as someone that they can respect and depend on. 

Consistency


People who are especially talented in the Consistency theme are keenly aware of the need to treat people the same. They try to treat everyone in the world with consistency by setting up clear rules and adhering to them. 

In my mind, a person is the same as anyone else no matter what their skin color is or any physical, mental, or emotional challenges they may face. "Dumbing down" curriculum or lowing expectations for certain students does not allow them to succeed. It just teaches them that they aren't able. We as teachers need to empower our students. We must be consistent to teach them that they, just like those around them, have a high potential that they can reach.

A success wrapped in a failure

Tuesday was my first formal observation. I was so nervous, imagining all that could go wrong.

Would the students be completely confused and start a riot?


Would I forget something back in my room that I needed for my lesson?


What if I half the class doesn't show up?

I stayed up late the night before planning the Act-It-Out. The students would receive a script to a TV show where the settlers of the Roanoke, Jamestown, and Plymouth colonies were being interviewed. I wanted to make sure that all of the questions would make sense and bring them to a high level of thinking and analyzation.

I rushed to get ready and get to school. I just wanted to get there and catch my breath. I had everything I needed...

Interviewer's mint green overcoat- check!


Powder blue glasses- check!


Scripts for all three colonies- check!

I was ready to go!

The time finally came. Ten o'clock! My supervisor came and my blood pressure spiked! I had the students go to their seat. I explained what they would  be doing and off their went into their groups.

Time was flying by. I kept thinking "why did I think this lesson would fit into a half hour?!"

I floated from group to group, making sure the students were on task and able to understand the questions in front of them. Then the worst happened...

A girl was crying.

I went over. All of the students were talking at once. Finally one of the students said "He called her a stalker". WHY DID THIS HAVE TO HAPPEN NOW?! Mrs. L pulled the "trouble-maker" to her desk and things went on.

The clock hit 10:30. Time for Art. The students put their papers on their desk and went downstairs to art. Finally, that part was down. Now for the torture of the "after-lesson evaluation".

I was waiting for the bombs and bullets but they never really came. I was told that timing is usually imperfect for student teachers and that my lesson over all was great. What an encouragement.

Luckily, I was able to get a Round TWO that afternoon with the other half of our fifth-grade team.

The lesson was GREAT. I was able to iron out previous kinks and move the students along. The students really enjoyed getting up and acting out the script. I was filled with so much joy as they learned and had fun.

I could definitely do this for the rest of my life!