Comments on: A Lifetime of Teaching

By: Sandy

Sandy — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:40:15 +0000

You helped your daughter see herself in a new light and I helped you. That’s a good feeling.

By: suz

suz — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:10:24 +0000

Years ago, my youngest daughter, Julie, was helping all her friends write and edit their papers in college. Later, she was helping them with resumes. I suggested she might get paid to do this since her work was so much in demand. So she started a successful little biz doing just that. Then it dawned on me that I’d been doing the same thing my whole life. Never even occurred to me that it might be valuable till then.

By: Terri Belford

Terri Belford — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:50:13 +0000

I also used to “play school” when I was a child, teaching my friends and then younger sister how to make things. I recently saw some artwork by an old school friend and when I commented on his amazing use of light, he said, “you taught me in your parent’s basement.” Some of us are born teachers and it has very little to do with higher education. How many full professors put us to sleep in college auditoriums with their knowledge but lack of inspiration? I believe those of us who are natural teachers need only passion for the topic. And practice.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:31:42 +0000

Yes! It's amazing, too, that sometimes what we most want to do or have are right under our noses. I missed this article. But, just found it. Thanks. "Teaching From Experience: How to Get Started"

By: Barbara Winter

Barbara Winter — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:15:37 +0000

I made the same connection to lifelong teaching that started as the oldest child and passing things along to my younger siblings. I also have an article (if you haven’t seen it) on http://joyfullyjobless.com called “Teaching From Experience: How to Get Started.” Aren’t you glad that academia isn’t the only place to practice this fine art?