Really thinking and really teaching

I sometimes think that too often educators don't really reflect on what being an educator really is. Sometimes we enter our classrooms without really taking into consideration what an educator really is and what an educator really does and what a really good learning environment should embrace. And then when our students don't perform to our standards or the schools' standards we place the blame on the system - on the kids - on the parents - on the.....

When we enter our classrooms how should the learning environment really look to promote good learning experiences?

So the questions then become... at this time what do you think really is a teacher? What really is an educator? What really is a learning environment? What really are learning experiences?

When you think about really good teaching and really good teachers and really good educators who do you see? What do/did they do that makes you think of them? (don't use names - but identify them when you knew/know them - maybe though grade level - content area etc.)

Describe what you really think are the two most important characteristics each teacher should have and share why you really think they are important.

Describe what you really think the two worst characteristics a teacher should not have and explain why.

Most importantly think about and share how you will try to  achieve the most important characteristics you just identified and how you will really try to avoid the worst characteristics you identified.

Really....