Meet Stacey Zraket, winner, Brainly Educator of the Year 2024

Brainly
12 Jun 202403:12

TLDRStacey Zraket, an eighth-grade science teacher and Brainly Educator of the Year 2024, emphasizes the importance of building relationships with students to foster a safe and engaging classroom environment. She believes in teaching respect and creating a space where students feel comfortable taking risks and participating actively, both in-person and online. Zraket finds innovative ways to involve students in remote learning, ensuring their voices are heard through various interactive methods. Her nomination by student Kaylee and selection by Brainly in the STEM category is a proud moment, highlighting the significance of science and technology education.

Takeaways

  • 📚 Stacy Zraket is an eighth-grade science teacher who believes teaching is more than just lesson plans.
  • 💡 She emphasizes the importance of building connections and trust with her students to create a safe classroom environment.
  • 🌟 Teaching respect and modeling it is one of her initial steps to foster a positive classroom culture.
  • 👥 Zraket encourages active participation and engagement from her students without fear of making mistakes.
  • 🤝 The teacher-student relationship is vital for students to feel comfortable taking risks and going the extra mile in learning.
  • 🏫 Whether in-person or virtual, Zraket focuses on creating a conducive learning environment for students.
  • 🔬 As an eighth-grade science teacher, she faces the challenge of engaging students in a remote setting effectively.
  • 💻 She incorporates various interactive methods such as chat pods, collaboration boards, and microphone interactions to keep students engaged online.
  • 🏆 Stacy was nominated by her student Kaylee and selected by Brainly in the STEM category, recognizing her contributions to science education.
  • 🙌 She expresses gratitude and honor for being nominated and selected as Brainly Educator of the Year 2024.
  • 🎉 Zraket thanks Brainly for the contest and the panel for selecting her, feeling truly flattered and appreciative.

Q & A

  • Who is Stacey Zraket and what is her profession?

    -Stacey Zraket is an eighth-grade science teacher who was awarded the Brainly Educator of the Year 2024.

  • What does Stacey Zraket believe is more important than lesson plans in teaching?

    -Stacey Zraket believes that making connections with students and creating a safe classroom environment where they feel secure to learn and trust her is more important than lesson plans.

  • How does Stacey Zraket approach teaching respect in her classroom?

    -Stacey Zraket teaches respect by modeling it herself, allowing students to learn how to treat each other with respect through her example.

  • What does Stacey Zraket think is the key to making 'magic happen' in the classroom?

    -The key to making 'magic happen' in the classroom, according to Stacey Zraket, is when students become active participants without the fear of making mistakes and feeling embarrassed.

  • What is the most important part of teaching according to Stacey Zraket?

    -The most important part of teaching, in Stacey Zraket's view, is building a strong relationship with students, as it encourages them to take risks and put in extra effort.

  • How does Stacey Zraket address the challenges of online education?

    -Stacey Zraket addresses online education challenges by creating lessons that engage students remotely, using chat pods, collaboration boards, and microphone interactions.

  • What does Stacey Zraket believe is crucial for a conducive learning environment in both physical and virtual classrooms?

    -Stacey Zraket believes that creating a classroom environment where students feel safe to take risks and be active participants is crucial for learning, whether in a physical or virtual setting.

  • How does Stacey Zraket ensure student participation in live online lessons?

    -Stacey Zraket ensures student participation in live online lessons by using various methods such as chat pods, collaboration boards, and encouraging students to turn on their microphones and interact.

  • What was Stacey Zraket's reaction to being nominated and selected for the Brainly Educator of the Year 2024?

    -Stacey Zraket felt flattered and honored to be nominated and selected for the Brainly Educator of the Year 2024, especially in the STEM category, which she considers important.

  • Who nominated Stacey Zraket for the Brainly Educator of the Year 2024 award?

    -Stacey Zraket was nominated by her student, Kaylee, for the Brainly Educator of the Year 2024 award.

  • What does Stacey Zraket appreciate about Brainly running the contest?

    -Stacey Zraket appreciates Brainly for running the contest and the panel for selecting her, expressing her gratitude and feeling of being flattered.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Building Trust and Respect in Classroom

Stacy Zraket, an eighth-grade science teacher, emphasizes the importance of establishing trust and respect in the classroom as foundational to effective teaching. She believes that making students feel safe and valued is crucial for them to actively participate and take risks in learning. Stacy models respect to teach students how to treat each other with dignity, which facilitates an environment where students feel comfortable engaging in class without fear of embarrassment from making mistakes.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Teaching

Teaching is the act of imparting knowledge, skills, and values to students. In the context of the video, Stacy Zraket emphasizes that teaching goes beyond lesson plans and involves creating a safe and trusting environment for students. It is central to the video's theme as it highlights the importance of the teacher-student relationship in facilitating learning.

💡Connections

Connections refer to the relationships or links established between individuals. Stacy speaks about making connections with her students, which is vital for creating a sense of safety and trust in the classroom. This concept is integral to the video's message, illustrating the human aspect of education that fosters a conducive learning environment.

💡Respect

Respect is the regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others. Stacy models respect in her classroom, teaching her students to treat each other with respect. This is a key concept in the video, as it sets the foundation for a positive classroom culture where students feel valued and are more willing to engage actively in learning.

💡Active Participation

Active Participation denotes the involvement of students in the learning process, such as raising their hands and engaging in discussions. Stacy seeks to foster this in her classroom, which is a central theme in the video, showing how an educator can encourage students to be more involved in their education without fear of making mistakes.

💡Risks

Risks are the possibility of danger, harm, or loss. In the context of the video, taking risks refers to students being willing to try new things and make mistakes in the learning process. Stacy emphasizes the importance of this in education, as it encourages growth and learning from experiences.

💡Classroom Environment

The Classroom Environment refers to the setting and atmosphere where learning takes place. Stacy discusses creating a conducive environment for learning, which is a key theme in the video. It underscores the need for a space where students feel safe to take risks and engage actively in their education.

💡Online School

Online School refers to educational instruction conducted through the internet rather than in a physical classroom. Stacy addresses the unique challenges of teaching in an online setting, such as ensuring student engagement, which is a significant aspect of the video as it explores the adaptability of teaching methods in different educational contexts.

💡Engagement

Engagement refers to the involvement and interest of students in the learning process. Stacy mentions the need to find ways to have students' voices heard in live lessons, which is a key point in the video. It highlights the importance of interactive teaching methods that can be adapted to both in-person and online learning environments.

💡Nominated

Nominated means to be officially proposed or recognized for an honor or position. Stacy expresses her gratitude for being nominated by her student Kaylee and selected by Brainly in the STEM category, which is a pivotal moment in the video, showcasing recognition of her teaching excellence.

💡Brainly Educator of the Year

Brainly Educator of the Year is an award given to outstanding educators by the educational platform Brainly. The title of the video and Stacy's mention of being selected for this award is a central theme, emphasizing the recognition and celebration of exceptional teaching in the field of education.

💡STEM

STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, representing the fields of education that are often emphasized for their importance in modern society. Stacy's nomination in this category is highlighted in the video, showcasing the significance of her contribution to education in these critical areas.

Highlights

Stacy Zraket is the Brainly Educator of the Year 2024 for her innovative teaching methods.

Teaching is more than lesson plans; it's about creating connections and a safe learning environment.

Stacy emphasizes the importance of building trust with her students from the beginning of the school year.

Respect is taught and modeled in Stacy's classroom, fostering a respectful learning community.

Active participation in class is encouraged without the fear of making mistakes.

The teacher-student relationship is vital for engagement and taking educational risks.

Creating a conducive classroom environment is crucial, whether in-person or virtual.

Online school presents unique challenges in gauging student engagement.

Stacy adapts her lessons to engage students actively in a remote setting.

Voices of students are ensured to be heard through various interactive methods in live lessons.

After 14 years of traditional teaching, adapting to online education was a fun challenge for Stacy.

Stacy feels flattered and honored to be nominated and selected by Brainly in the STEM category.

Nomination by her student Kaylee and selection by Brainly signifies recognition of her teaching excellence.

Stacy is thankful for Brainly's contest and the panel's decision to honor her.

The importance of science, technology, engineering, and math education is acknowledged in Stacy's award.

Stacy's innovative approach to teaching grade eight science has a significant impact on student learning.