Chapter 9 Response to: Self-Efficacy

by April

I know what you mean about feeling like you missed out on a lot of important things in school. One of my motivating factors for being a teacher was to give kids the things I missed out on. And yes, being given an opportunity to really reflect on learning is one of those things. I really hope that in an interview no one ever asks me to tell them a teacher that really had an impact on me. I don't know if it's because I switched schools all the time or if it's because I just didn't have good teachers but I really don't remember much of anything that was great about any of them.

It is a little nerve-wracking to think of the impact that our own self-efficacy can have on our students. I'm a big believer in self-talk, as I think I've mentioned. When I'm feeling uncertain about my abilities I try to just tell myself that I'm going to do great because I'm intelligent and capable. After a while you actually start believing it! Amazing, the power of our mind. I definitely think you're right, we have to be careful not to set too high expectations for ourselves so that we don't burn out. Someone in class the other day said (while laughing) that we probably won't ever see the long-term effects of our investments. They were slightly kidding, but there's a good chance that in most cases, that will be true. I've been enjoying that book, "Letters to Those Who Dare to Teach." It talks about needing to have an "armed-love" for our students and our profession, not to mention courage, humility and a variety of other qualities. It's not an easy profession we enter, but an important one.