Help my teacher win LIVE's 2nd Annual Top Teacher Search - General

Hello Facepunch. Yesterday I learned that my old teacher had been nominated for this contest on "LIVE! with Regis & Kelly" called "LIVE's 2nd Annual Top Teacher Search". I was really excited, because as you know this is a NATIONAL thing. It's really cool to see a teacher you interacted and learned from getting this high of an honor. Anyways, Mr Earl Haskins is has always been one of my favorite teachers because of his kind personality and his brilliant methods of teaching. I know a teacher is great when they can teach you more than you knew before and manage to be the nicest teacher in the building. An example of a "normal" unit in his class would be our Ancient Greece unit. He divided the class into groups of four of five and assigned us the name of an ancient Greek city-state. Our groups within the class would compete to be the best city-state by bringing in or creating items that represent out city-state, compete in the Olympics, and hear from the Ancient Greek gods about how we are doing as far as taking care of our "citizens". The city-state with the most points at the end would win a special prize. In the ancienct Chinese dynasties unit, we made a T.V. show. In the African Trading unit, we created and painted Adinkra clothes. In the Mesopotamia unit, we made cave drwaings on the bottom of our desks in the dark. But in the Ancient Rome unit, we had a packet and we were given class time to fill it out. I'm not saying that's a bad thing; I mean he somehow managed to make that fun too. As you can see, he strives to create units and lessons that span a bunch of different teaching methods to attend to every students favorite method of teaching. I really respect him for this. I could go on and on about why he deserves to win. Now if you are a nice person and would like to vote to help him, please do. But the voting process is really dumb, because you are going to have to make a account on their site. But an activation email isn't sent to the email dress, so you can use fake information. :) You also need to be 18. :) Thanks so much if you are willing to vote. It means a lot to me, Mr Haskins, and my school. He is the fourth one down on the left: [url]http://www.dadt.com/live/contest/topteachersearch/11/vote/index.html[/url] Here is the letter that his daughter submitted to LIVE!: [quote][img]http://www.dadt.com/live/contest/topteachersearch/11/vote/images/item/201104181531-earl-haskins.jpg[/img] Earl Haskins teaches 7th grade Ancient Civilizations at Fort Zumwalt South Middle School in St. Peters, Missouri. His passion for his subject and his students is very evident in everything he does. Every day, his students enter into his classroom, not knowing what to expect. From going on a real archaeology dig, to researching their own family history, to creating an African fabric, to participating in ancient Greek Olympics, to sampling food from ancient cultures, to engaging in simulations, to dressing up--Mr. Haskins truly brings ancient cultures to life. He makes history relevant to his students and encourages a passion for learning. By using creative and unique lesson plans, Mr. Haskins draws his students into an environment of natural curiosity, which leads to learning. Without them even knowing it, his students walk away with so much knowledge about Ancient Civilizations! It is not uncommon to see Mr. Haskins walking the hallways in a to go or African outfit. With most of his units of study, he will literally transform his classroom into whatever culture they are learning about. A pyramid, valley in Greece or the Great Wall of China will mysteriously appear over the weekend for his students delight. The students may be asked to sit under their desk to simulate a cave or to try wasabi and rice. They are even asked to practice chivalry. His students know that Mr. Haskins really cares for them. He is not interested in merely clocking in, clocking out and drawing a pay check. He is in his classroom, hoping to make a difference in kids' lives. He makes a point to attend his students' (present and past) sporting events and other school activities. While there, he seeks out the students' parents to be able to sit with them, help cheer on their children and build a stronger community. Countless of times, Mr. Haskins has called a sick student's home to ensure he/she is getting better. He has even been known to bring his trumpet to school and serenade two students who are dating during their lunch period. He is invested in his students. Over the years, a handful of students have even invited him to their birthday parties--which he attended! What 13 year old do you know who would invite his teacher to his birthday party? But the students know that Mr. Haskins cares for them and wants them to experience the absolute best in their life. Many previous students continue to visit Mr. Haskins. They know they will still find a man who cares and will encourage them to seize the day. Mr. Haskins opens up his life and heart to his students. Unlike many other teachers, he will share his life--showing pictures of his family, telling stories about his crazy weekend, or laughing at dumb things he did as a teenager. He even invited his first born grandchild to come and visit him at school so he could show him off to his students. He is an open book, willing to use his own life experiences to teach how to live the best life one can. Mr. Haskins is a teacher who teaches more than just history. He teaches life lessons. He teaches that there are people who will listen, encourage, and cheer you on. He teaches that life is better lived with a smile on your face. He teaches that one's life should be spent giving back to others. He teaches to not grow up too fast. And he teaches that every opportunity should be made to better the world we live in.[/quote]

Voting! :smile:

[quote]to participating in ancient Greek Olympics[/quote] Uh, didn't ancient Greek Olympians perform in the nude?

[QUOTE=No_0ne;29384980]Uh, didn't ancient Greek Olympians perform in the nude?[/QUOTE] Yes. In fact, if I recall correctly the word gymnos, from gymnasium, is Greek for nude.

[QUOTE=Blah360;29384970]Voting! :smile:[/QUOTE] Thanks. :) [editline]24th April 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=No_0ne;29384980]Uh, didn't ancient Greek Olympians perform in the nude?[/QUOTE] :smug:

I voted for Ms. Kemp cause she's do able.

Voted. He seems like a good teacher from what you're writing.

Ugh, these types of teachers annoyed the hell out of me back in Middle School. Just lecture and let us go ASAP, none of this elementary school BS.

-snip- [editline]24th April 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Kontradaz;29388515]Ugh, these types of teachers annoyed the hell out of me back in Middle School. Just lecture and let us go ASAP, none of this elementary school BS.[/QUOTE] i bet you're just the life of parties aren't you

[QUOTE=Dachande;29388546]-snip- [editline]24th April 2011[/editline] i bet you're just the life of parties aren't you[/QUOTE] If teachers didn't waste student's time with stupid ways of teaching like this, maybe kids will have more free time to do things such as party. To be honest, I think the majority of kids just wanted to get that shit over with and go do their own thing. Either way, American system of teaching sucks and produces shit students. In Europe, teaching time is managed far better and kids actually do productive things in class.

Cmon OP, are you telling us we have to resist voting for a great beard? [img]http://www.dadt.com/live/contest/topteachersearch/11/vote/images/item/201104181528-bill-herzog-thumb.jpg[/img]

You have to vote for 5 people.

[QUOTE=Kontradaz;29388598]If teachers didn't waste student's time with stupid ways of teaching like this, maybe kids will have more free time to do things such as party. To be honest, I think the majority of kids just wanted to get that shit over with and go do their own thing. Either way, American system of teaching sucks and produces shit students. In Europe, teaching time is managed far better and kids actually do productive things in class.[/QUOTE] I disagree. Every class is different in every school. No country has a better schooling methodology. (Minus China, but theirs leaves the children as work drones.)

[QUOTE=Kontradaz;29388598]If teachers didn't waste student's time with stupid ways of teaching like this, maybe kids will have more free time to do things such as party. To be honest, I think the majority of kids just wanted to get that shit over with and go do their own thing. Either way, American system of teaching sucks and produces shit students. In Europe, teaching time is managed far better and kids actually do productive things in class.[/QUOTE] Leaving kids time to party? Your school runs the same hours, regardless of weather or not your teacher keeps you for an extra 3 minutes to make teaching fun. I swear to god you have the dumbest opinions on teaching.

[img]http://www.dadt.com/live/contest/topteachersearch/11/vote/images/item/201104181551-stacey-carver-thumb.jpg[/img] Tell me your secrets, wizard...

Voted. Good luck!

[QUOTE=Dachande;29390847]Leaving kids time to party? Your school runs the same hours, regardless of weather or not your teacher keeps you for an extra 3 minutes to make teaching fun. I swear to god you have the dumbest opinions on teaching.[/QUOTE] I really don't give a shit if it's fun or not. The fact is that it's a pretty damn shitty teaching method because it wastes time that could go towards actually teaching kids a larger quantity of information and actually focusing on skills that are important in real life. Instead of fucking painting cave drawings on the desk the kids could be focusing on improving their writing skills with some essays, or actively discussing a topic. How much do you actually learn when you paint "Adinkra clothes"? You learn about that particular clothing item, that's it. Waste of like 2 days right there. And then we wonder why kids fail their exit exams and we wonder why do U.S kids do horrible in worldwide testing? Because the teachers coddle their students with shit like this from elementary school all the way to high school. It's project after project after project that are a waste of time with little educationary value but shit teachers do it because its easy to grade. Then the kids who have done project and artsy projects their whole life will flunk out of their first english class because they can't write, they will flunk out of their math class because they can't comprehend something that their junior high teacher should have taught them- a teacher that spent a whole month on a project researching some mathematician instead of doing actual math. The data backs my point. Look at private v. public schools test ratings; look at their teaching styles. Look at U.S v. European/Asian test ratings; look at their predominant teaching styles. Instead of trying to make students enjoy school by throwing shit projects at them that supposedly appeal to their younger ages, how about instilling within them a love for doing actual work that will pay off in higher education and their lives? Oh shit, that means actual work for the teachers!

[QUOTE=Kontradaz;29399997]I really don't give a shit if it's fun or not. The fact is that it's a pretty damn shitty teaching method because it wastes time that could go towards actually teaching kids a larger quantity of information and actually focusing on skills that are important in real life. Instead of fucking painting cave drawings on the desk the kids could be focusing on improving their writing skills with some essays, or actively discussing a topic. How much do you actually learn when you paint "Adinkra clothes"? You learn about that particular clothing item, that's it. Waste of like 2 days right there. And then we wonder why kids fail their exit exams and we wonder why do U.S kids do horrible in worldwide testing? Because the teachers coddle their students with shit like this from elementary school all the way to high school. It's project after project after project that are a waste of time with little educationary value but shit teachers do it because its easy to grade. Then the kids who have done project and artsy projects their whole life will flunk out of their first english class because they can't write, they will flunk out of their math class because they can't comprehend something that their junior high teacher should have taught them- a teacher that spent a whole month on a project researching some mathematician instead of doing actual math. The data backs my point. Look at private v. public schools test ratings; look at their teaching styles. Look at U.S v. European/Asian test ratings; look at their predominant teaching styles. Instead of trying to make students enjoy school by throwing shit projects at them that supposedly appeal to their younger ages, how about instilling within them a love for doing actual work that will pay off in higher education and their lives? Oh shit, that means actual work for the teachers![/QUOTE] I see where you are coming from, but you have to remember that if a teacher throws a ton of information at them and doesn't try to make connections by doing projects like these, they may not learn anything because of the lack of engagement. Mr Haskins is a great teacher because he manages to balance the amount of information given and the engagement that, in my opinion, opens the door in the student's heads and allow the information to enter and stay there. When fun memories that come from the projects are created, the informational aspect of the lesson tags along with it. [editline]24th April 2011[/editline] And thanks to everyone that has voted. It's kind of far-fetched, but it'd be cool to see him win. :)

Damn, I was gonna vote for Mr. Earl Haskins, but then I saw all these faces smiling at me. [img]http://www.dadt.com/live/contest/topteachersearch/11/vote/images/item/201104181547-penny-ellis-thumb.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.dadt.com/live/contest/topteachersearch/11/vote/images/item/201104181543-nina-lovill-thumb.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.dadt.com/live/contest/topteachersearch/11/vote/images/item/201104181528-bill-herzog-thumb.jpg[/img] I'm gonna break their fucking dreams If I don't vote for 'em :smith:

[QUOTE=mzathemind;29388052]I voted for Ms. Kemp cause she's do able.[/QUOTE] Naaaah man its all about Nina Lovill