Teacher Recognition Event – Pi Lambda Theta Opening Comments
Speaker: Ryan Colwell
Thanks you Dr. Hands for the introduction and thank you all for the warm
welcome. It’s quite an honor to speak at today’s reception on behalf of Pi Lambda Theta.
Pi Lambda Theta is an international honors society and professional association in
education. The Beta Sigma chapter of Pi Lambda Theta here at UConn strives to support
and celebrate the work of exemplary pre-service and in-service teachers, and celebration
is exactly why we are gathered here.
As I thought about my remarks for today, a question sprang to mind. What is it
exactly that our student teachers are learning this semester? Well, I decided to go right to
the source. Thanks to some quick e-mail responses from some of our student teachers
who are out there today, I get to stand up here and live out my dream of being a late night
talk show host. I now present to you the top ten lessons learned so far by this year’s
NEAG student teachers.
Lesson # 10: Sometimes first graders love to sing in the bathroom before lunch. I’ve
learned that it’s okay to send in a classmate to break up the Hannah Montana dance party.
Lesson # 9: It is physically possible to eat my lunch in 3 minutes and 43 seconds.
Lesson # 8: I’ve learned that the race to the copier in the morning usually ends with said
copier being jammed and needing more toner.
Lesson # 7: Teachers have many superpowers. One of those superpowers is the ability to
detect a text message being sent anywhere with a seven desk radius.
Lesson # 6: When using a smart board to teach a lesson...ALWAYS have a nontechnological back-up plan nearby.
Lesson # 5: I’ve learned to think about how students will interpret something! I had a
geometry review sheet that said, "Draw and label triangle TOY with one right angle." I
had a student draw a jack-in-the-box and proudly exclaim, "My toy has not one, but
FOUR right angles!"
Lesson # 4: I’ve learned that there are 2 Starbucks and 5 Dunkin Donuts between my
apartment and the school where I student teach.
Lesson # 3: The names of the seven continents are always easier to remember when you
learn them as a rap song.
Lesson #2: I’ve learned that the hundredth day of school is much more exciting than it
was when I was a kid. No one ever let us make patterns with 100 colored marshmallows
or fruit loops.
Lesson # 1: I’ve learned that teachers have the best job in the world. Where else do you
get to see kids laugh, smile, and learn on a daily basis?
So there is your top ten! But I decided it was important to ask this year’s student teachers
one more very important question. What have you learned from your cooperating teacher
so far this semester? Once again the student teachers pulled through and provided me
with some great responses. No top ten list this time. I just want to share with you what
some of the student teachers said.

I’ve learned that it’s better to try something new in the classroom and be
unsuccessful, than to never have tried at all.

I’ve learned that every student has strengths, and that a teacher’s job is to
celebrate them, but then build upon them as well.

I’ve learned how to manage a classroom.

I’ve learned that a teacher can be an authority figure, but also a supporter, a
cheerleader, and a listener.

I’ve learned that lessons don’t always go the way you planned, and that’s okay.

I’ve learned that there are times you need to re-teach something you’ve already
taught in a new way.

I’ve learned that all learners are different.

I’ve learned how to use assessment to shape my instruction.

I’ve learned how to differentiate my instruction to meet the needs of diverse
learners.

I’ve learned the importance of hands-on, problem-based learning.

I’ve learned the value of teacher collaboration.

I’ve learned that it’s important for students to make real-world connections and
applications that bring their learning to life.

I’ve learned how important it is for teachers to be enthusiastic about the things
they are teaching.

I’ve learned that it’s okay to admit that there are many things that I don’t know.

I’ve learned to take a minute before I leave school each day to celebrate at least
one success that I’ve had and one success that my students have had that day.
These are just a few of the lessons that this year’s group of student teachers have
learned so far this semester, and it goes to show what an unbelievably positive impact our
cooperating teachers have. So I’d like to end by thanking three groups of people. First,
thank you to our student teachers, for working so hard, learning so much, and striving to
become the caring and compassionate educators that all students need. Second, thank
you to the university supervisors and education professors, who help our student teachers
gain the knowledge and confidence that they need to succeed. And last, but certainly not
least, thank you to all the cooperating teachers out there, for inspiring, mentoring, and
teaching the next generation of educators.