MASTER TEACHER
SEMINAR
Terry
Whisnant
Hampden
Sydney College
10th
Anniversary
Class of
2001
PARTICIPANTS
ORAL TRADITION IS BASIS FOR
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE
PROGRAM
 VIRGINIA, MARYLAND,
PENNSYLVANIA,SOUTH CAROLINA
SENT FACULTY TO SEMINAR
 WE WERE ALL LOOKING FOR WAYS
TO IMPROVE TEACHING

INSPIRATION
WE WERE ALL ASKED TO BRING A
BOOK ABOUT TEACHING OR
LEARNING THAT HAS BEEN
BENEFICIAL IN OUR PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
PHILOSOPHY OF THE
SEMINAR
TEACHERS TEACH ONE ANOTHER—
BEST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
 DIVERSITY INSPIRES CREATIVITY
 LESS IS MORE—TIME FOR
RELAXATION, CHATTING,
EXCHANGING IDEAS

INTRODUCTIONS-SUNDAY
INTERVIEW WITH A NEW BEST
FRIEND
 LOTS OF LAUGHTER
 SHARING OF WHAT WORKS—
“T” IN TEACHING STANDS FOR THIEF

DAY ONE--MONDAY
INNOVATIONS—SOME STRATEGY THAT
ENHANCES LEARNING IN CLASS
EXAMPLES:
ROLE PLAYING TO DEMONSTRATE
MITOSIS
FOOD TO STIMULATE CREATIVE
WRITING
INSTRUCTIONAL
SCENARIOS
WE DISCUSSED PROBLEMS WITH
STUDENTS—
BEST WAYS TO HANDLE THE ISSUES OF
ATTENDANCE, FAILING STUDENTS,
CHEATING
ADVICE:
DON’T MAKE A POLICY THAT IS TOO
DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE
TERRY’S TIP OF THE DAY:
STUDENTS DON’T COME TO YOU FOR
KNOWLEDGE—THAT WOULD BE
STUPID!
THEY COME FOR THE
RELATIONSHIP/INTERRACTION
WORDS OF WISDOM FROM
PARTICIPANTS:
HOW YOU ENFORCE A POLICY IS
FOUNDED ON YOUR EDUCATIONAL
PHILOSOPHY
TEACH ME THE WAY I LEARN
MOTIVATORS
“SHOW & TELL” ACTIVITIES THAT GET THE
ATTENTION OF THE CLASS
Math & magic tricks
Riddles for critical thinking
Visuals pertaining to subject matter—cartoons, etc.
Skits
Story telling
ICEBREAKERS . . . For that
quiet class
TAKE A STAND:
STUDENTS GET OUT OF SEATS AND
FORCED TO MOVE RIGHT, LEFT, OR
MIDDLE TO STAND FOR OPINION
LETS THEM FIND STUDENTS WHO
THINK LIKE THEM
DAY TWO--TUESDAY
MASTER TEACHERS AT WORK
….TERRY’S ASSISTANTS
WHAT WE’VE LEARNED
FROM EXPERIENCE:

THE SECRET OF TEACHING IS TO
APPEAR TO HAVE KNOWN ALL YOUR
LIFE WHAT YOU LEARNED
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
COOPERATIVE LEARNING
BEST METHOD OF LEARNING IS PEER
TEACHING
 SAMPLE ACTIVITIES:

– EXPECTATIONS (FIRST DAY OF CLASS)
– PARTNERS GUESS WORDLES
– PARTNERS WORK ON INTELLIGENCE
TEST
– MATH , M&M’S, PROBABILITY
MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES
ADMINISTER INTELLIGENCE TESTS
DISCUSS KINDS OF INTELLIGENCES
OFFER STUDY TIPS FOR STUDENTS
LESSON PLANS TO INCORPORATE M.I.
INTO DAILY ACTIVITIES
DAY THREE--WEDNESDAY
TEACHING A SAMPLE LESSON:
Blueprinting
Psychology:Work of Neurons
History of the Computer
Health: Osteoporosis
Accounting: Assets & Liabilities
DAY FOUR---THURSDAY
Evaluation time: What have we learned from
the Master Teacher Seminar?
IF HE IS INDEED WISE (THE TEACHER)
DOES NOT BID YOU ENTER THE
HOUSE OF HIS WISDOM, BUT RATHER
LEADS YOU TO THE THRESHOLD OF
YOUR OWN MIND.
Kahil Gibran
IN CONCLUSION:

GO TO THE MASTER SEMINAR—IT
MADE PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT FUN!