Becko Copenhaver has won teacher of the year at Lewis & Clark College. [HT Dan Kaufman.] In an interview she comments:
"I realized I was a lousy teacher because I hadn’t approached teaching the same way I approach everything else. I hadn’t approached it as something I could learn from others and get better at... Nick Smith taught me to be confident but open, and to use my personality in the classroom rather than sublimate."--B. Copenhaver [The whole interview is worth reading.]
2. You have to use parts of your personality (and maybe even enlarge these) that help you create an environment in which you and your students can explore philosophy together. This may require quite some trial & error. (Also, each class has a different internal dynamic.)
3. It really helps to have encouraging and trustworthy mentors when one starts one's professional career.
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