Learn to Spot the Raw Material of Talent

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Gems don’t start out beautiful. Most look like a dirt clod. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What teachers do

My personal goal is to look at every student and find something that student is very good at doing. It must be honest and true. Sometimes it takes a while to find it but when I see it, I know it. Like an expert gem cutter, good at recognizing the raw material in a rock, an expert teacher can see the raw material of excellence in a student. Over time, as your suspicions are confirmed are proven wrong, you get better at this and learn to trust your instincts.

But remember, that you are not a god, you are a teacher. You can share your opinion and what you notice about a student but ultimately if a student decides to pursue that area is up to the student and his / her parents.

You are a scout, an advanced party who finds gems. The teacher’s role begins here because good teaching starts with caring before content. When students know you care then you’re ready to teach.

This doesn’t mean you have to be a “softie” and weep daily at the injustices of their life. Some of my best teachers have been tough teachers. But deep down, I believed that they were knowledgeable and had my best interests at heart.

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Vicki Davis

Vicki Davis has been an educator and IT director in Georgia since 2002. Today, she also works as an instructional technology coach, staying side-by-side with active teachers and students so her work stays grounded in real classrooms.

She's a mom of three, wife of one, and loves talking about the wise, transformational use of technology for teaching and doing good in the world.

She has blogged at the Cool Cat Teacher Blog since 2005 and hosts the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast and Cool Cat Teacher Talk (radio, public access TV, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms), interviewing remarkable educators around the world. Vicki focuses on what unites us — a quest for truly remarkable, life-changing teaching and learning. The goal of her work is to provide actionable, encouraging, relevant ideas for teachers, grounded in truth and shared with love.

If you talk to Vicki for long, she'll encourage you to "Relate to Educate," to "innovate like a turtle," or to be "a remarkable teacher." She loves homemade sourdough bread and cinnamon rolls and runs half marathons with her sisters. You can usually find her laughing with her students or digging into a book.

Thank you for reading, sharing, and telling your friends about the work we do here! - Vicki

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