by Carter Weisberg from Adath Israel
My Name Is Carter Ari Weisberg from Adath Israel Synagogue on the Main Line. I started my love for teaching when I was 14 years old. I was taught by some of the best teachers I have ever had who encouraged me and helped me improve and become a better version of myself. Now I strive to be just like them.
Participation in the TAP program this year was without a doubt one of the most valuable and rewarding experiences I’ve had. I’ve used many of the skills learned in this program in the classroom. Furthermore, I want to discuss what TAP has done for me in specific ways. TAP has aided me in gathering a grasp or understanding of those around me. The ability to decode situations and better understand and share knowledge and kindness with my students is a true gift. I thank TAP for giving me the ability to readily lift off the ribbon to the present of teaching.
The struggle and inability to understand others inhibits the ability to interact with others especially as a teacher. TAP for me gave me validity as an assistant teacher. Before TAP, I struggled with outbursts in the classroom. Most teachers would tell me to take the child in the hall or tell me that the child was being disruptive and to help them out. A big part of teaching that I had not fully realized was understanding that disruption doesn’t stand for unjust behavior. The majority of the time disruption really places a precedent for needs when a person’s needs aren’t met, they struggle. In the classroom I noticed students I had were being disruptive and I recognized that it was not because they were trying to be, it’s because they felt the need to be. Either they were anxious, distracted, felt unattended to, desired attention, or were in need of stimulation. In my book no child is a bad child. There are only children that have and have not had their needs met. Whether it was a fidget, a drink of water, or a snack, I made sure they received it. I really appreciate the assistance that TAP gave me in aiding my understanding on need-based allocation of resources within the classroom. This is a true keystone skill.
Undermined students and unresolved conflict is the bane to modern day teaching. The same medicine you give to one patient may not always treat the other, teaching is the same way all students need a different type of way to uncover knowledge. It’s as important to kids as it is to us that if we don’t help ourselves find how to steer on course, we may not stay on it. We must reorient ourselves and others for the betterment of society and the modern day classroom. I appreciate TAP for lending me that very ability. Lastly, I contribute to this arrangement one question: why let others suffer when a cure can be found? Make the decision or not, will you stand by without acknowledgement or will you pursue and persist? The cure may not always be the light that leads to destiny, sometimes it may be to inquire and not just be defiant, but thought provoking as creativity is the writer to all novels.