Teachers Work Harder When They See Success
The following excerpt is from a letter to the editor published in a November issue of Education Week. It was written by Executive Director Aleta Margolis. Click here for a link to the full letter. (You may have to create an account to login, but accounts are usually free for the first few months.)"Like most people, teachers work harder when they care about what they’re doing, and when they know they are succeeding. Research on teachers’ commitment (such as the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Project on the Next Generation of Teachers) shows that a combination of extrinsic and intrinsic factors contributes to their remaining in the profession. Pay matters, of course, but teachers stay when they’re supported, valued, and respected in the difficult work they do.
A can-do attitude strongly predicts accomplished teaching. Educators with a robust sense of self-efficacy are more likely to reach every student. They build relationships and are open to new strategies to get students excited about learning. They view classroom challenges as a reason to work harder."
- Aleta Margolis, Executive Director
