Persistence is the main intellectual engagement indicator that I would like to apply to my classroom this school year. Persistence means to stick to a task until it is completed even though it may be difficult. I must apply this particular engagement indicator to my teaching practices. I have found myself focusing more on the knowledge that I have mastered while basicly ignoring the subjects in which I have limited knowledge. This, I believe, is a real problem for me and my students as they may not get the educational experience that they deserve. This, I have always felt, is unfair to them, and I must change my behavior. The main reason for my lack of persistance as it pertains to teaching stems from two things: my unwillingness to think "outside the box" and the fear that I have of leaving my comfort zone. This fear is sustained through my laziness to do research on the things that I am weak at teaching and the anxiety that I feel when I am not in total control. I think that as teachers we should not be afraid to go into unchartered territory and explore unfamiliar ground. As educators, we should be willing to take chances and not worry about making mistakes in the name of education. In order to achieve this goal, I must began to act like a student again. I need to do research and other homework, like I did as a student, in order to perfect my lesson. I should evaluate myself as if I were being evaluated by my professor. Simply put, I must become more motivated at perfecting my craft.

This may help you understand the concept of the main idea.

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