To Empathize or Not ?

What does Empathy have to do with being a teacher? Well let's see... teachers are human... teachers have feelings...students are human... students have feelings... it might be a good idea for you, as a teacher, to be aware of how you project yourself to others and how well you can perceive others. Just because students are required, by law, to attend school doesn't mean you, as a teacher, don't have to meet them where they "are" in life. Physically students may be in your classroom but mentally may be miles away for various reasons. Some of these reasons may be beyond the control of the student...i.e. they may not just be day dreaming, they may be devising a survival plan for when they get back home or later on the playground. The ability to empathize with your students and their everyday life will enable you to create lesson plans that have enhanced meaning to the students in your classroom.
Teachers that can make a 'subject' come to life, with real time relevance and tangible understanding will enjoy greater student success. I find that I am usually comfortable in about any social situation, I think in part because I am actively aware of others and can usually tell if those around me are uncomfortable or relaxed. I scored a 43, (whatever that really means) on the empathy quotient exam which is one point higher than the average male, but well within the overall average. If you are interested in taking the exam for yourself just out of curiosity Click Here just remember to read carefully how the question is asked and just answer honestly, I know several of the questions are a bit vague but answer the best you can based on the question.
ISTE NETS (tech standards) "Educational technology standards are the road map to teaching effectively and growing professionally in an increasingly digital world," this comes direct from the website, technology is a tool available to a teacher just like many other resources, and I can't help but think that as teacher you should be your own greatest "tool." Meaning it is absolutely imperative that you have learned as much about yourself as you have your subject material... if you are afraid to laugh, then you will not inject humor into your lessons and that means you have potentially lost a great tool available to you to aid in classroom dynamics... the list goes on. All of what we do and learn is preparation for a time and task in the future no matter what field you find yourself in, so the question becomes Why wouldn't you want to learn everything about everything? especially all the things that make you uniquely YOU!