Magic Ears Teacher Stories

For the Love of Learning: A Teacher’s Tale I’ve always loved learning. I could never get enough information. When I was three, I watched Jurassic Park for the first time. It soon became my obsession, “dinosaurs are cool, and I need to know everything about them!” I started telling everyone that I wanted to become a paleontologist, even going so far as to prove my commitment by just casually spelling “paleontologist” during conversation. Three-year-old me didn’t understand evidence, or anything resembling proof, or how to carry a conversation for that matter. I started volunteering at an elementary school during university. I was so happy. I mean who wouldn’t like being around twenty bright-eyed and energetic kids (given a healthy dose of caffeine)? But here is where my journey as an educator really begins. A month after graduation, I moved from New Brunswick, Canada to take a job in South Korea teaching English as an Additional Language. I went expecting a f...

When I was three, I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wanted to be a doctor, then I learned I didn’t like needles. But, when I was five, I definitely knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wanted to be a dancer, and then, very painfully, I learned I have no control of my flailing body. But everything changed when I was 7, I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wanted to be and ice skater, then I realized, I have never even been on the ice before and I really hate being cold. So, when I finally made it to 10 years old I knew it! I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wanted to be a mathematician. I love numbers. I love crunching numbers. I love applying numbers and equations to the real world. It just made sense. But then, as a 10 year old does, I changed my mind and didn’t want to be a mathematician. The cycle just continued I’d have an epiphany, it would last about 3 months and then I’d get tired of it. Flash forward to high school gr...

     When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a nurse. My father, a doctor, took me on a tour of the neonatal area and shared with me that you get very attached to the little babies. I read a lot, thinking the more I read, the smarter I'll be when it is time for nursing school.      In the 5th grade, I had the honor of being in Mr. Bradna's class. Though we sat in rows creating a very individual and lonely learning space, he created a homework game on the back wall. As we turned in our homework, we advanced a spot, eventually earning a prize. This opened my eyes to how school can be fun!       I struggled as a learner and this gift allowed me to be a teacher who can relate and offer suggestions to students who struggle. Using a variety of teaching methods including hands on, visual projects, and actively participating in their learning- I can see how students find confidence in themselves and learn strategies to become an advocate...

All my life I’ve wanted to be a nurse. Helping people is my passion, and I wanted to make a difference in others’ lives. I attended college for nursing, and tutored in ESL on the side to help pay my tuition. In Spring 2017, I was one class away from getting into nursing school. I was so excited to continue my journey doing what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Then I got sick. The week of fall registration, I was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. I was losing vision in my left eye, and my head felt like there was so much pressure inside, that I could only walk a few steps without feeling like I was going to pass out. One episode landed me in the emergency room, where we were shocked to find out that my symptoms were not from the brain tumor at all, but something far more serious. My C1 and C2 vertebrae had shifted out of place, compressing my nerves. This rare phenomena was life threatening, and could cause a tear in my arteries, leading to a stroke, or a tear in my n...