Be A Magenta Teacher: Compassionate, Optimistic, Balanced, Adaptable, Content
The term "magenta teacher" was coined by James Alan Sturtevant, author of Teaching In Magenta. Sturtevant defines a magenta teacher as someone who is passionate about teaching, who is committed to helping students learn, and who creates a positive and supportive learning environment.
Magenta teachers are not afraid to be themselves and to share their own unique perspectives with their students. They are also not afraid to take risks and to try new things in the classroom. Magenta teachers are always looking for ways to improve their teaching and to make learning more engaging for their students.
Sturtevant notes that magenta teachers are not perfect, but they are committed to making a difference in the lives of their students. They are passionate about teaching, and they believe that every student can learn. Magenta teachers are the future of education, and they are making a difference in the lives of students all over the world by embracing the five main qualities of a magenta teacher. Explore these qualities and different paths that teachers can walk based on them.
Compassion
Compassion is power. Some associate power with the victors, the ultra-competitive, the publicity seekers–the people we celebrate in contemporary society. Such individuals are often considered virile and heroic, but these strivers are frequently motivated by anxiety, not strength. Compassionate teachers are the opposite. They reach out. They manage their emotions. They risk ridicule. They don’t seek self-promotion. Become that kind of powerful educator.
Compassion Path 4: Be Prepared For The Question
Teachers generally dislike hearing, “Why do we have to learn this?” It’s understandable for a teacher to get frustrated by this prompt, but today, welcome the prompt as an opportunity. When you think about it, it’s a perfectly fair and legitimate question. So go ahead and prepare an outstanding response. Craft such a marvelous response that you provide it to students whether or not they ask the question. Rather than getting upset about the question and overreacting, be prepared to answer it daily.
Optimism
Optimism transforms mundane tasks into rapid checks on a to-do list. When you’re excited about the future, you don’t get bogged down in tedious chores. Optimism will help you cope with not only mundane obligations so you can get to the exceptional, but also with profound setbacks. Teaching is full of those, but don't be negative in front of your students. Whatever you’re struggling with isn’t their fault. Keep reminding students and yourself that there are magnificent highlights on the horizon once you clear a few hurdles.
Optimism Path 26: Serve Appetizers
Instead of launching into your lesson and presenting immediately, tease your students first. Get them excited about diving into the lesson. Today, before you dive into a topic like the Sepoy Rebellion, for example, prompt kids to collaborate on the impact of a rumor. A rumor sparked the rebellion. Great hooks create instant relevancy. When students learn about the Sepoy Rebellion, they’ll think of the impact of rumors on their lives. Hook your kids, and create a much more receptive audience that’s open to learning. The more excited they are, the more optimistic the entire experience will become.
Balance
Life can be like a violent storm while at sea. But it’s reassuring to have a stable captain at the helm, guiding the vessel and calming the passengers. Obtaining balance can also be a marvelous gift to your students. You could become a calm Polaris to kids, many of whom experience typhoons as they circumvent adolescence.
Balance Path 45: Cut Yourself Some Slack
Over the course of your career you've taught hundreds maybe thousands of students. Along the way, you are bound to have run into students that didn't like you. Today, as you agonize over that kid you’ve tried everything with, commit to continue trying, but don’t take it too hard if it doesn’t work out. Just keep trying. Perhaps, if you take some pressure off yourself, they may come around.
Adaptability
Schools today certainly are different than the schools of our youth. This is true even for young teachers. The world is changing rapidly. Learning to adapt means exploring the dispositions of flexibility, suppleness, and openness. When you embrace adaptability you'll undermine any future label of being the grumpy old teacher at the end of the hall who desperately needs to retire. Instead, you'll be a role model of openness and relevancy to both students and colleagues.
Adaptability Path 61: Be Inconsistent
Teachers frequently are encouraged to be consistent in terms of grades and classroom management. But humanity is certainly diverse. Today, venture into variability, and teach each period differently. Try a different lesson hook with each period. Each class, alter your lesson plan slightly—or fundamentally. In one class, conduct direct instruction. In another, unleash student-led learning. You could allow kids to design the lesson and how you will deliver it. Or introduce randomness by prompting students to make a blind choice like a roll of the dice or a coin flip. You may find a magnificent way to teach a lesson.
Contentment
As you reflect on your time as a teacher, the memories that erupt are most likely the moments of raucous laughter, the surprises, the incredible relationships, and the deep feelings of accomplishment. These are moments of pure contentment. Inspire students to look back on your class fondly, even generations from now. Find something to be content about in everything you do. This is not only a path to becoming a happier teacher but also a path to profound fulfillment.
Contentment Path 83: Play Sweet Jams
A lot of folks play music to add joy to tedious tasks. Your class may not be tedious, but the entire school day is tedious for some kids. To combat monotony, add joy into today’s lesson by adding a soundtrack. Play it at a low level as your kids morph into creation mode. Your students may have questions about your playlist, and you can explain why you selected a particular song, what impact you hope the song will have, and why this song is meaningful to you. You’ll not only soothe the savage beast with music but become more interesting to your students.
Walk through theses excerpted paths and more of Teaching in Magenta and understand and embrace the qualities a magenta teacher has. Follow these quick and easy paths to reach fulfillment as an educator.
