Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/859531
" Don't give up. I promise you that everything will get easier, and the hard work is worth the rewards that you will receive." you ever will, but once you get the management down and know what is expected of you, you will do just fine. Don't give up. If this is truly your calling, just continue to go with it. I promise you that every- thing will get easier, and the hard work is worth the rewards that you will receive. What he learned as a new educator: I thought teaching was easy — as long as I knew the content, standing and delivering the content would be a piece of cake. But teaching is one of the most difficult jobs out there, because you shape the world on a daily basis. It is also one of the most rewarding jobs. You get to turn young minds into future doctors, lawyers, even teachers. How to build in students a love of math: Find different ways to help stu- dents understand math. Our students are our unknown vari- ables: To understand them we must get to know them, peel off their layers one by one. Once you build that trust with your students, learning will naturally happen. Math will become enjoyable. ISEL A LIEBER United Teachers Los Angeles, iselal0130@gmail.com Ninth- and 10th-grade English, ESL and ESL science teacher " It is all about empowering students to follow a path that works for them, and teaching them to become their own advocates." An immigrant who came to the U.S. with a seventh- grade education and little knowledge of English, Lieber strongly identifies with her students, leading by example and sharing her personal story. She sponsors SUCCEED, a student club that helps first-generation high school graduates, English learners and low-income students prepare and apply for college. "We must believe in students' ability and capacity for accomplishment and success," Lieber says. "We teachers have to celebrate milestones with them, because sometimes nobody else does." Why teaching is an act of social justice: So many educators use their influence to inspire stu- dents by showing them the options they have through education. For example, many of my students are new to the country and don't know how to navigate differ- ent systems such as applying for college or financial aid, registering, taking the SAT. It is all about empow- ering students to follow a path that works for them, and teaching them to become their own advocates. Motivating students to succeed: I create a culture of acceptance, comfort , camara- derie and high expectations in my classroom. I make sure they know that education is power, and that by empowering themselves through it they can better themselves, their families, their communities and their country. Advice on teaching immigrant students and English learners: Continue to believe in these students — most want to learn, but may get frustrated by the language bar- rier. Remember that many arrived without a support system in place. It may be the first time they meet a parent, or see their parent, in many years. We as responsible educators need to place emphasis on their social-emotional needs. Advice to educators on avoiding burnout: Take care of yourself both physically and mentally. Learn how to control your stress levels and manage your time. Sometimes it is OK to say no. Also, we must learn to choose our battles. Many times we may be dis- couraged by the current political situation, budget cuts or the latest trend in educational reform. We cannot internalize these. We have to remember that our only constant is our classroom, our stu- dents, and the difference we make in their lives through our work, dedi- cation and commitment to student empowering and success. 25 A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 017