Sharing Stories of Teaching

Abstract

Teaching is what matters most for improving student learning in the new millennium. Unfortunately, the teaching profession needs heros and heroines-it is sadly in need of caring teachers who have the ability to influence the general public. If teachers and teacher educators are to be influencers or public leaders, then they must consider the constraints of the unschooled mind as shown in the writings of Howard Gardner. They must present their expertise so that their ideas influence parents, students, and community members-not just other professionals. All teachers must model caring in their classroom. A few teachers or teacher educators need to widen the circle of their influence so that they can become our Joe DiMaggios.