The "Golden Circle of Teaching"

In a video Simon Sinek describes his theory of "The Golden Circle" which is set up as:

And, he states that normally people work from the outside in, they start with the what and work themselves in. However, in order to make an impact and to get the real point of something, you need to start with the inside and work your way in.

So to look at this from the point of view of teaching, the what and how are pretty simple; What - We want to be teachers, How - We are learning processes, techniques and models of teaching.

Then there is the why;

I would like to be a teacher to make a difference in children's lives and to help them to succeed. Obviously I know it'll be tough but that moment when a student finally grasps a concept is priceless, and makes it all worth while. That's why I want to be a teacher.

I've also attached an assignment I had for another class where we had to write a two page paper on why I want to be a teacher. So it just adds a little more to my why, of the Golden circle.

So You Want to Be a Teacher

Elizabeth Newman

I want to become a teacher so that I can hopefully make a difference in children’s lives and to teach them the different tasks available to them. I really enjoy working with children and the way there eyes light up when they learn something new. As well I would really like to do Teachers Without Borders and to teach in a third world country where I feel I could get the chance to make a difference, and help out in a way in which not many people get the chance to.       

In order to be a good teacher you have to have a passion for teaching as well as the subject you are teaching.  If you don’t believe in what you are teaching then it makes it hard for the students to believe you as well. Good teaching is also accomplished by meeting the many different learning styles and not just focusing on one specific type. Thus allowing all the students to get a feel for the different styles and which works best for them. As well, good teaching is accomplished by challenging the students daily and allowing them to reach their full potential. Teachers need to be flexible and open to new ideas so that the way the students are taught doesn’t become bland and repetitive.

When I finally begin to teach I want to be the type of teacher that students like and feel comfortable with. Obviously to be a good and effective teacher you need to have discipline and control over your class, but a sense of humour and openness with the students will also allow for a fun learning environment. When it comes to my personal qualities I have some that will help me in becoming the teacher that I want to as well as some that I will need to work on. I believe I already have a passion for teaching which I learned while tutoring students. It came from those moments when they finally understood a concept they were having trouble with or when the student would show me the grade they received. I also have a great sense of humour, I love making others laugh and I also appreciate a good joke. I have a great deal of patience which I learned from having three brothers and a sister. Some things I definitely need to work on are that I am quite until I feel comfortable with a group. So I will need to work on my public speaking and nervousness so when the first day of class rolls around I am able to perform my job right from the start.

I believe that teaching will be like an air traffic controller. I chose this metaphor because air traffic controllers are constantly guiding the planes on to the right path and helping them get there.  It’s an important job just as teaching is and if you do make a mistake or do not take your job as seriously as you should it can create many problems. As well an air traffic controller finishes their job by having the plane take off so they can go off on their own, just as at the end of the year the teacher lets the student take off on their own.