Thursday Jun 13, 2024

Episode 5 Life Lessons Beyond the Classroom with Elizabeth Burton

Guest: Elizabeth Burton

Assistant Professor of English at Hopkinsville Community College

Writer of (mostly) literary fiction

Disclaimer: The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or the podcast.

In this episode, we dive into the transformative power of teaching with Elizabeth, an inspiring educator who shares her journey and methods that have left a lasting impact on her students. Elizabeth recounts the poignant story of her favorite teacher who instilled in her the confidence to pursue her dreams, demonstrating the profound influence a single teacher can have on a student's life. The discussion explores how positive reinforcement and personalized attention can change the trajectory of a student's life.

Elizabeth describes her innovative method of incorporating life lessons alongside academic content, using object lessons to help students grasp and remember concepts more effectively. She emphasizes the importance of building community in the classroom, sharing, "I care about them as a human being, it offers community, and cuts down on students coming in late because they want to know what the life lesson is." Steve is amazed as he does the math on one of Elizabeth's lessons and sees its effectiveness in encouraging student mastery.

The conversation shifts to the urgent need for mental health supports for students, both on campus and in online classrooms. Elizabeth stresses the importance of fostering a supportive environment and providing mental health resources. Host Pat adds her perspective, sharing her experience with outsourced mental health services and their impact on student support.

Elizabeth also offers strategies to guide students to mental health resources and manage them in both online and seated courses. She addresses student reluctance towards group work and shares strategies for encouraging participation. Additionally, she introduces her favorite new platform that engages students by simulating a social media environment for discussions.

The episode concludes with encouragement for listeners to reflect on how they can positively impact others' lives, whether in a teaching role or otherwise. Join us for an inspiring discussion on the power of great teaching and how it can shape the future, one student at a time. Tune in and be part of the movement!

Resources:

Motivating Students Who Don't Care: Proven Strategies to Engage All Learners, Second Edition (Proven Strategies to Motivate Struggling Students and Spark an Enthusiasm for Learning)

Perusall - Transform nearly any type of course content into a social learning experience, driving meaningful engagement and deeper understanding.

Murdle.com - Daily Mystery Puzzles by G. T. Karber

About the National Great Teachers Movement

Other Great Teachers Resources

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