Mr.

Ham

AsIreflectonmyeducationalexperience,Ithinkofoneteacherwhoinspiredand challengedmetolearnMr.Ham.Mr.Hamdifferedinhisteachingstylefromallmyother teachers.Hesetthebarhigh.IcanandIwillwashismotto.WhatIlearnedfromthis teachersurpassedhisacademicsubject.Inadditiontolearningaboutanatomyand physiology,hetaughtmehowtobeorganized,focusedaswellaschallengemyselfand believeinmyself. Mr.HamwasananatomyandphysiologyteacheratGardinerAreaHighSchool.Hewould begineachclasswithajokeorhighlightednewstopic.Irememberenjoyinghischipper andpositiveattitude.Iwasinspiredbyhisbrilliance.Mr.Hamcouldbefoundeitherinhis roomortheteacherslounge.Hemadehimselfavailabletostudentsbyspendingtimein hisroom,butmaintainedaprofessionalappearancebynotfraternizingwiththestudentsas didsomeofourotherteachers.Hewasafierceadvocateforhisclass.Infact,hadmade specialeffortstomakesurewehadproperandadequateequipmentandtoolsnecessary togiveusanenrichinglearningexperience.Forinstance,hefoughttomakesurewehada felinecadaversforeachpairingofstudents.Iknowforafactthisisnotanopportunity availabletoallstudentsbecausewehadtousediagramsinmycollegecourseonethatI paidfor. Mr.Hamsclassroomwasalwaysspotlessandneatlyorganized.Respectwasthenumber oneruleinhisclassincludingpeople,safety,policyandequipment.Raisingyourhand andlisteningtootherstudentswasanexpectedbehaviorduringlectures.Anyonewho spokeoutofturnwasignoredandthosewhoweredisruptivewerespokentofirstandsent outoftheclassifthebehaviorcontinued.However,anopenandongoingdialoguewas acceptablewhileweworkedinpairs.DuringthistimeMr.Hamwouldoccasionallypipeup andtalkaboutsomethingthatstruckhimasinteresting.Transitionsfromoneactivityto anotherwereseamless.TheyearItookhisclasswashislastyearofteaching.Imsure thishelpedinhisamazingorganizationalskillsforinstructionandactivityplanning. Mr.Hamsclasswaschallengingandengaging.Hedemandedanobsceneamountof workincomparisontomyothercourses.Infact,Iconsideredmycollegeanatomyand physiologyclasstobeelementaryandabreezecomparedtoMr.Hamsclass.Iamstill proudofatestinwhichIscored100onbecauseitwassuchararityforsomeonetoscore 100ononeofhistests.Heopenlyacknowledgedthisdemand,butinsisteditwould prepareusforcollegecourseworkandlife.However,hewascarefulnottoembarrass anyonebyputtingthemonthespot,buthedidoccasionallycallonstudents.Iwascalled onfromtimetotimeusuallywhenheknewIunderstoodthematerialwell.Additionally,Mr.

Hammadeanefforttoannouncecurrenteventsorinformationconcerningouracademic subject. Mr.Hamalsocaredabouthisstudents.Hewasoftenknownforpointingoutstudents strengthsandmakingrelevantsuggestionsaboutfuturestudies.Forexample,duringone ofourclassesherecommendedIlookintoJohnHopkinsUniversityandenrollintheir medicalartsprogram.HefeltIhadastrongartistictalentandthatImayconsidermedical sketchingasacareer. Clearlyanyonecouldseehewasverypassionateaboutbeingateacherandhisacademic subject.IwasfortunatetohavehadtheopportunitytotakeMr.Hamsanatomyand physiologyclass.Hechallengedandinspiredme.HewasateacherIworkedextrahard forbecauseIwantedhimtobeproudofmeandIwantedtobeproudofmyself.Mr.Hams classleftanimpressionablemarkonmyphilosophyofeducation.

Reflection
Mr.Haminstructionalqualitywasveryhigh.Hewasaveryeffectiveandengagingteacher.I wouldsayheutilizeddirectteachingandcooperativelearning.Weweretaughtmainlythrough lecturesandinsmalllabgroups.Studentswerealwaystreatedwithrespectanddignitywhen theyenteredhisclassroom.Eachclasswouldstartpromptlywithsomehumorofsortsanda dailyreviewofpreviousmaterialwhichwouldthenleadintothatdaysmaterial.Ourclasseswere structuredintwoparts:lecturefollowedbylab.Lecturesweregivenatquickpacealongwitha fewlowerorderquestions.Wealsoweregivenanoccasionalspotquizinplaceofalecture.If anyonehorsedaroundoractedoutinclasstheywereimmediatelydisciplinedandsenttothe office.Mr.Hamwasoftheopinionthathisclasswasanopportunityorevenperhapsaprivilege totake.Infact,aneducationisavaluableopportunityitisnotsomethingowedtoanyone.I believethisaswell.TheinsightsIlearnedfromthisassignmentandMr.Hamarethatyouneed tobewellorganized,haveapositiveattitude,expectalotfromyourstudents,haveaspecific classroompolicythatisroutinelyenforced,helpkeepstudentsengagedbytacticssuchasspot quizzesandbeengagedyourself.