10/09/09 - Gibson County
TN Educator
of Week
By: Brandon Artiles
bartiles@wbbjtv.com
By: Brandon Artiles
bartiles@wbbjtv.com
4:03 p.m.
This week's Tennessee Education Lottery Educator of the Week is Barbara Bennett, a first grade teacher at East End Magnet Academy in Humboldt. Bennett has been teaching for 23 years, with the majority spent with first graders.
Bennett said her love for teaching first graders is, because her students react so well to the material. "I love teaching, I love seeing the kids get excited," Bennett said. "I love to see them get excited when they learn something new. They want to share it with everyone."
Bennett said one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching is watching her students transition and embrace the subject matter as the year progresses. "That's exciting when you see the change that takes place from the beginning of the year, from Christmas to the end of the year," Bennett said. "You see a big change in them."
As she has experience teaching in both fourth and second grades, Bennett said it was in the first grade she realized the type of students with which she was most effective. "They're still at the stage where they think of you as a second mother," Bennett said. "They're still real loving and I like that."
The attachment Bennett has formed with her students has led to some of the most enriching memories she has as teacher. She said it is especially enriching when students from years past come back. "They remember your name and they say, 'Oh, I remember learning about,' whatever in your room," Bennett reflected. "That's really rewarding that they remembered what you taught them."
This week's Tennessee Education Lottery Educator of the Week is Barbara Bennett, a first grade teacher at East End Magnet Academy in Humboldt. Bennett has been teaching for 23 years, with the majority spent with first graders.
Bennett said her love for teaching first graders is, because her students react so well to the material. "I love teaching, I love seeing the kids get excited," Bennett said. "I love to see them get excited when they learn something new. They want to share it with everyone."
Bennett said one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching is watching her students transition and embrace the subject matter as the year progresses. "That's exciting when you see the change that takes place from the beginning of the year, from Christmas to the end of the year," Bennett said. "You see a big change in them."
As she has experience teaching in both fourth and second grades, Bennett said it was in the first grade she realized the type of students with which she was most effective. "They're still at the stage where they think of you as a second mother," Bennett said. "They're still real loving and I like that."
The attachment Bennett has formed with her students has led to some of the most enriching memories she has as teacher. She said it is especially enriching when students from years past come back. "They remember your name and they say, 'Oh, I remember learning about,' whatever in your room," Bennett reflected. "That's really rewarding that they remembered what you taught them."