October 5th is World Teacher Day, the perfect opportunity to honor all those educators who have shaped our lives for the better. Today, we’re celebrating the incredible educators who’ve inspired, challenged, and championed us through every chapter of our lives. After all, teaching isn’t just about textbooks and test scores; it’s about lighting sparks, opening minds, and guiding young hearts through the adventure of growing up.

Here are some of our favorite teacher (or teaching) moments celebrated by EARTHDAY.ORG’s own staff – some of whom are former teachers!

Eggi Triyadi – Campaign Specialist 

My favorite teacher was my high school art teacher, Mrs. Rina. What I remember most from her is the importance of trusting yourself in whatever your craft is, and learning to love the process. She showed me that to be great at anything, you need to value the journey, and that’s something I still carry with me today. 

While the finish line is important, the process of getting there matters even more. That always puts things into perspective for me, and I thank Mrs. Rina for that.

Emily Walker – Senior Education Coordinator

I have quite a few favorite teaching moments from my own career as a teacher, but the ones that stick out are often not related to academics. Teaching elementary school students is by far my favorite group to teach because they want to build connections with you and others. This means I had many moments of bursting into tears from laughter or utter surprise. This happened often with my students as they are curious and uncensored at that age. 

The small moments – in the morning when a previous student would stop by my classroom to say a simple “hello” or when a student drew a picture of me and my dog. Those small bits of connection they showed were my favorite moments. 

Bryce Coon – Director of Education

My favorite high school teacher was my social studies teacher, Mr. Beach. I took a number of courses with him—economics, world history, world religions—and he taught them all with a unique passion and introspection. He had a gift for connecting his lessons to the larger picture, always ensuring he was helping us become better versions of ourselves. 

I recently had the chance to reconnect with him and share how my own journey came full circle. It was a powerful moment to tell him that his inspiration is what led me to teach for 11 years and how my current role with EARTHDAY.ORG is impacting students around the world through our climate education programs.

Sarah T Davies, Director Communications & Media

I had a brilliant biochemistry teacher when I was at Aberystwyth University, going back to college as a mature student, don’t ask me why! He was wonderfully open to being challenged if we didn’t understand anything, which was often for me! I was struggling to grasp something called Beer’s Law (to be precise, the Beer-Lambert Law) that had nothing to do with alcohol but is vital for doing biochemistry properly.

It states that the absorbance of light by a substance in solution is directly proportional to the concentration of that substance and the length of the path the light travels through the solution. Yep, you have to learn how to use it because it’s this law that’s widely used to determine the concentration of molecules in a sample.

I plucked up the courage to tell Dr. Lamb that basically none of us understood the formula, including me, and he set up a special ‘Beer Law Bootcamp’—it was a game-changer. Come the exam, I think everyone in the class scored over 90% on that section, and it was all thanks to Dr. Lamb’s kindness and willingness to understand that we weren’t stupid, just confused. I still love biochemistry with a passion, which feels bizarre as I was useless at chemistry at school!

Dennis Nolasco – Education Coordinator

My favorite teaching moment was when I was teaching English Language Learners and I had a student from Germany, Nikolas. He hated reading, did not enjoy practicing his English and appeared pretty disinterested in class. 

However, I learned that he loved soccer and invited him to join our after school soccer club which I ran. He had a blast playing and felt more comfortable speaking English and quickly made friends. Soon, in class I recommended graphic novels about soccer such as “Booked” by Kwame Alexander. Nikolas devoured the book and soon started asking me for more book recommendations about other topics. At the end of the year, Nikolas gifted me a German National Team soccer jersey. 

I learned that even the most seemingly disinterested student can become engaged when given the right opportunities!

Aminah Taariq-Sidbe – Manager of End Plastics Initiative 

My elementary school teacher, Brad King, taught me to love STEM. I loved when he instructed us on how to build rockets, or when we would project stars in a dark room and teach us about space. He passed away this year, and I hadn’t gotten the chance to thank him as an adult. But I know I will carry on his legacy of educating and inspiring the love for science. 

Terran Fielder – Media Specialist

Sometimes, everything aligns and the right teacher shows up with the right lesson at exactly the right time.

I’ve always loved learning about history, especially how it shapes culture and drives innovation. During my junior year, I took U.S. History with Mr. Brewer (coincidentally, at the height of my Hamilton the Musical obsession). I was fully invested in the subject, but memorizing dates? Definitely not my strength. That said, thanks to Hamilton, a few key ones stuck.

I’ve never been shy in class, but I’d hold back if I wasn’t sure of the answer. On the first day, Mr. Brewer asked when the U.S. declared independence. I blurted out, “1776!” From then on, he encouraged me to take risks, to speak up, and to trust myself, even when I wasn’t 100% certain.

When it came time for the big state exam, I got sick and was worried that everything I’d worked so hard for would fall apart. But I passed with flying colors…not just because Mr. Brewer was a great history teacher, but because he taught me something even more lasting: confidence.

To all the teachers out there: thank you. The world needs you, and we see and appreciate everything you do.If you’re an educator passionate about making a difference beyond the classroom, we invite you to join us at EARTHDAY.ORG. Help us bring climate education to every student, everywhere. Explore our free resources, get inspired, and become part of a global movement to empower the next generation through knowledge and action.

The post Teachers are Our World appeared first on Earth Day.

November 18th to 22nd is American Education Week and so it feels more than fitting to talk about the impact teachers have on our lives. I speak from first hand experience too.

Teaching in a classroom was one of the biggest adventures I had the privilege of taking on in my 20s when I became a kindergarten teacher. It was always rewarding and always challenging, and it offered me a way to connect to a mission that was greater than my own and more than just a career.  

Children need to be nurtured, inspired, and experience new things so they can grow and navigate the big wide world. It was my privilege to be part of that journey for some of them. One day in my 6th year of teaching, I realized I wanted to transition out of the classroom to provide education to more students, impact different communities, and advocate for change in a way that extended beyond my one classroom, and I joined EARTHDAY.ORG to advocate for climate education.

I realized I could educate on a global scale through a platform like EARTHDAY.ORG, (EDO). This leap, while daunting, opened doors to an entirely new world of possibilities. I do not get to hear about a student’s weekends anymore or read them books daily but I know that my experience in the classroom made me more real, more connected, and more understanding of the world because it allowed me to see it through the eyes of those who still see it with wonder. To teach is to be surrounded by wonder every day. 

Inspired by this sentiment I asked my EDO colleagues what teachers they remembered the most and here are their answers. It made me proud to belong to a profession that truly does change and shape the world we live in. 

My favorite teacher was someone who encouraged us to break rules.   My English teacher  used literature to make her pitch that we (all girls) should  not accept the status quo about anything.    She was a gentle, brilliant woman who asked us to see the world differently.  To see ourselves as leaders, explorers, writers and scientists.   I’ll never forget her.    Kathleen Rogers, President EARTHDAY.ORG 

My middle school science teacher, Miriam, played a huge role in my love for science and sustainability. Her passion and energy was contagious, and her approach to teaching was very hands-on. We also called her Ms. Frizzle because of her curly hair and pet bearded dragon that she kept in the classroom. Every class was an adventure; thank you, Miriam!  Aminah Taariq-Sidibe, Manager of End Plastic Initiatives

My AP English and Literature teacher (humble brag, got a 4 on both, no big deal), Anna Thomas, inspired me to get involved with the environmental movement and how we can use language to inspire people. She was my first introduction to environmental advocacy and led our high school environmental advocacy club doing local cleanups and protests against fossil fuel drilling on the Outer Banks.  Aidan Charron, Associate Director, Global Earth Day 

My psychology teacher, Mr. Visna, taught me during my junior and senior years of high school. He was a wonderful storyteller and always willing to talk to us outside of class. In those conversations, he was honest and attentive and inspired me to be a better version of myself, motivating me to pursue the career I have today.  Maddie Lacroix, Executive Assistant

My favorite teacher was Ms. Rehberg, she was not just a teacher to me but a mentor and friend. She is who introduced me to the environmental movement and is the reason I found my passion for environmental advocacy. I wrote my college admissions essay about the incredible influence she had on my life. Libby Bunch, Campus Outreach Associate 

One of my favorite teachers in high school was Mr. Knopp, my sophomore-year Language Arts teacher at Bandys High School. He taught me how to analyze a wide range of texts, both current and historical, and through this, I started to become very comfortable in trusting myself and my own beliefs. At the start of high school, I was quite shy, but Mr. Knopp made the class a comfortable place to come out of my shell. Through vocal discussions about whatever we were learning in class, I learned to dare to have disagreements, be vocal about my truth, and be myself. Ironically, these are extremely important skills for this job.  Michael Karapetian, The Great Global Cleanup Coordinator 

My favorite teacher growing up was Mr. Coulter. He was my marketing teacher in high school. What I really enjoyed about his class was that he used many real-life examples and case studies to make learning about marketing techniques more relatable. But more than that, he told me I could do anything I wanted in life as long as I applied myself and I took those words to heart. Thank you Mr. Coulter! Dennis Nolasco, Education Coordinator 

I had a geography teacher in secondary school, his name was Zbigniew Deptula. Every day he had a t-shirt from a different country, Ethiopia, Ireland, Canada; he visited more than 90. He knew the answer to any question: GDP, climate change, minerals, he inspired me to explore the beauty of our world, geography was his life. In 2021 sadly he died but I still think about him often. Johnny Dabrowski, Consultant, Coordinator of Climate Education Coalition 

My favorite teacher was Mrs. Smith, who taught me Art at Balfron High School, in Scotland, many, many years ago! She told me you couldn’t really fail in art if you just did what you liked and what made you happy. That was the first time a teacher had ever asked me to think that way. I remember at the ripe old age of 15 that it was an idea that utterly delighted me. My art got so MUCH better afterwards too. A few years later, after I graduated college, I went back to the school to take her out for lunch and to thank her. Good teachers change lives and Mrs. Smith taught me to trust my own gut. I loved her and still to this day I think about her life lesson often; do what makes you happy, trust yourself. Sarah Davies, Director Communication and Media

Sometimes, the lessons our teachers push us to learn ourselves are the most valuable. Mrs. DP embodied this for her students. As an English teacher, it initially struck me as unusual that she rarely shared her beliefs, guiding our discussions without participating. Yet, by the end of my two years in her class, her wisdom became clear. We could analyze Huckleberry Finn, Romeo and Juliet, and The Pearl under her watchful eye, but she wanted us to think critically on our own, develop the strength to defend our conclusions, and have the confidence to let our opinions evolve as new facts emerged. These skills have proven invaluable in my life and I couldn’t be more grateful.  Terran Fielder, Media Specialist

When a teacher sees a students’ potential, it opens doors. My first grade teacher, Mrs. Shinkles supported me when I was struggling with reading fundamentals. I remember her working with me after school and giving me books to take home. She not only allowed me to pass but excel in reading. I now have a lifelong love for reading. This is the teacher who inspired me to become a teacher.  Emily Walker, Education Coordinator

My favorite teacher was my high school social studies teacher, Craig Beach. Mr. Beach pushed students to see a world beyond our community in all of his courses and encouraged independent thinking. I see the world differently after having Mr. Beach as my teacher and I have carried that learning through my work as a teacher and in climate education.  Bryce Coon, Director Education Initiatives 

My high school math teacher, Mrs. Fang, was quite strict and serious in class but she was really good at explaining math, in a way that even someone like me, who was not very good at math or science, could understand. It made me not hate math as much! I thank her for “balancing” my grades, which gave me a better chance of getting into a top university. Sophia Valentino, Digital Media Strategist 

My math tutor, Mrs. Protehiros, was the main person that influenced my choice for my college major: Finance. If it weren’t for the patience, compassion and understanding that she so generously provided, I would have easily continued to despise math. She single-handedly changed my perception of the subject, inspiring me to pursue a career of numbers. Whenever I think about a teacher that helped me find my true potential, the first person I think of will always be Mrs. Protehiros. Basi Kosmas

Thank you to the teachers of the world. We need you and we appreciate you.

If you are an educator and want to join the EARTHDAY.ORG network, consider supporting our mission to put climate education into every single classroom around the world and please utilize these  free resources on climate education and why it matters here.  If you are a teacher in the K – 12 grades please consider utilizing our free guide, The School Guide to Teaching Climate Education, because you can never start teaching students about climate change early enough!

If you are a college student who wants to get involved on your campus promoting any of these issues, climate literacy, divesting from fossil fuels, renewable energy or sustainability, please contact our campus MobilizeU Coordinator Lee Franklin at franklin@earthday.org.

The post Thank A Teacher Today – They Change Lives! appeared first on Earth Day.

Education has been central to the rise and flourishing of civilizations for centuries. Despite its obvious importance, however, it hasn’t always been widely accessible or affordable. In fact, only in the last century, with the historic publication of the United Nations’ Declaration on Human Rights in 1948, has it been declared a basic human right. 

As new requirements for children’s education were established, there soon came the need for regulations regarding the rights and responsibilities of teaching staff. In October 1966, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers, a set of guidelines for the advancement of the teaching profession and the standardization of teachers’ rights, responsibilities and working conditions. A similar set of guidelines was adopted in 1997 with regard to higher education.

World Teachers Day, observed annually on October 5 since 1994, commemorates the document’s anniversary and the precedent it set for the improvement of education worldwide. In addition to celebrating the teachers who have contributed so much to our lives, the day is also a great opportunity to reflect on the essence of education and its importance in the lives of young people. 

Many recent studies have shown the long-term positive effects of quality education on diverse aspects of students’ lives. A 2014 study, which analyzed the impact of “high value-added” (VA) teachers — teachers who have had positive, quantitative impacts on their students’ academic success — on more than one million students, found that students taught by high VA teachers were more likely to attend college, have higher paying jobs, and were less likely to become teen parents. 

A critical component of this positive impact, however, is the student’s trust in the teacher, in what they are teaching, and in how they will support the student in their learning. Samford University psychology professor Stephen Chew found in a 2020 study that students are more likely to push themselves and take risks when they trust their instructors. 

The concept of trust is especially important when it comes to sensitive topics, including politics, religion, and even science. Subjects such as evolution and climate change, the validity of which some deny, can be contentious and, as such, need to be treated with care. 

Climate Education Makes a Real Difference

Science education, and climate education in particular, is more important than ever, especially in the United States, as we increasingly experience the destructive effects of the global climate crisis. While most Americans do believe in climate change, and that it is cause for significant concern, misinformation and confusion continue to pose problems. 

For example, only 1 in 5 Americans understand that the vast majority — more than 90% — of scientists agree that human-caused global warming is happening, while only 58% of Americans believe that global warming is caused by human activity. 

Nevertheless, it has been repeatedly established that people who learn about climate change in school are not only better equipped but also more likely to make sustainable choices later in life. As EARTHDAY.ORG’s climate education fact sheet highlights, the Columbia School of Climate reported that 59% of students who learned about climate change in school have taken action to address it, compared to only 44% of students who did not learn about climate change. A 2020 study found that if just 16% of secondary students in middle and high income countries were taught climate science in school, it would result in a reduction of almost 19 gigatons of carbon dioxide by 2050. 

While early education is of course important, adult education should not be discounted. Despite popular belief, older generations of Americans are not significantly less likely to believe in climate change. In fact, a recent study showed that older Americans may actually be more inclined to take action regarding climate change.. 

Fortunately, the Internet has made disseminating information to large audiences remarkably more convenient. With increased accessibility to news sources, books, film, and television, in addition to new technologies such as virtual reality, it has become much easier to engage people on a wide variety of topics. From nature documentaries to climate-focused video games, to the free provision of satellite imagery to the public, there are countless ways to learn more about environmental science and climate change, no matter your age, education level, or interests. 

But just as the internet facilitates the sharing of information, it also allows the spread of misinformation. Quality schooling, however, is one of the best tools at our disposal to combat this issue. The earlier children are exposed to the facts, as well as taught critical thinking and discussion skills, the less susceptible they will be to any false or misleading information they encounter later in life, and the more likely they will be to confidently evaluate how trustworthy are the sources of that information. A 2024 study of 776 students at a secondary school (years 7 through 11) in England found that students’ susceptibility to science misinformation and disinformation declined over the 5 years, and underscored the importance of continued education. 

Accessible Climate Education Materials

Since the very first Earth Day in 1970, the environmental movement has been dedicated to raising awareness about our most pressing environmental problems and inspiring people around the world to get involved and take action in their own communities. 

Today, EARTHDAY.ORG (EDO) continues to uphold this important mission and a key component of this work is about prioritizing the inclusion of climate education in school curricula worldwide. In April of this year, EDO released a report titled Climate Education vs. The Climate Crisis, outlining the significant benefits this inclusion offers. These include easing student climate anxiety, helping children understand the impact of their actions on the planet, and, perhaps most importantly, increasing their likelihood of embracing the green skills that today’s workforce urgently needs. 

This goal of integrating climate education into classrooms has widespread support: 86% of teachers and 84% of parents advocate for it, while 65% of students express a desire to learn more about how climate change will affect the planet. However, only one U.S. state, New Jersey, currently has mandatory climate change education for grades K-12. EARTHDAY.ORG intends to change this.

Acknowledging the critical need for increased climate education, EARTHDAY.ORG aims to make climate course material more accessible to classrooms. From lesson plans and teaching guides, to advocacy packets and reading lists, their website provides comprehensive resources that can be easily tailored to schools’ existing curricula. 

While these resources are a valuable part of the solution, EARTHDAY.ORG needs your support! Schools, teachers, parents, and students need to elevate their voices to amplify their desires and concerns. The resources are available, and the motivation is clearly there; all that is needed now is for governments to listen to their constituents and act in their best interest and put climate into classrooms!

Celebrate this World Teachers Day by becoming an Earth Day Educator Representative – sign up here to join the global community of climate educators!   

The post Shaping a Sustainable Future With Climate Education appeared first on Earth Day.

I click my pen and jot another note on the growing list of things I need to do before school starts next week. Another summer has come and gone. I glance at the clock and then around at my fellow teachers, most of whom are zoning out, too. The director leading the professional development today looks around for hands to answer the question that nobody really wants to answer. This is the last thing we need at this moment in time, we are already overloaded and overwhelmed. I click my pen again and continue writing my list for the day — and this professional development I am sitting in right now is not even one of the items.

Being a teacher for many years, I know it is easy to get overwhelmed by new standards and curriculum, from all levels of the system. It always comes back to the same statement: We don’t have time. The last thing we want is something new to implement in our classroom without any time or any real idea on how to fit it all in. But last year I left my teaching profession behind, to advocate for climate education as part of EARTHDAY.ORG’s Climate Education Team. Now I am the person adding to their neverending to-do list!

Skip to August 2024 when in my dream scenario teachers all over the world hear, “Who’s ready to teach climate change this year?” I know from firsthand experience that their reactions will  be mixed but the bottom line will be the same. With a topic like climate change, how do general education teachers —  who have no prior background in tackling this topic — incorporate it into their classroom effectively? 

We have to look at how we train teachers.Teachers learn best when they have a variety of learning opportunities such as meaningful participation in continuing education, workshops and in-service training, and informal self-initiated learning activities. These opportunities are wonderful in an ideal setting where climate education is fully funded and supported. The question is, what about new initiatives that are not fully mandated and therefore funded? What about the question of the resources that might be needed as well to teach the new subject, as well as the time needed to prepare?

The answer could start with introductory professional development courses for teachers to begin the conversation. Teachers can use an existing lesson template but  rewrite it in the context of climate education. It’s a safe  “toe dip” into the climate education waters that are raging across the world right now.

We need a roadmap for climate education that starts with prioritizing a holistic understanding of the topic at hand. The climate literate lesson guide is an initial step which will eventually need support with continuous professional development opportunities, as well as the addition of institutional changes, supports, and resources. A crucial component for effective professional development is that it needs to be consciously and continuously revisited, while simultaneously digging deeper into content. Teachers want guidance to implement new curriculum and we need to find clever — even bite-sized — ways to give it to them.

We at EARTHDAY.ORG want to be part of a teachers’ support system when it comes to climate education — but to be effective, we need to be deliberate in how we educate teachers about climate change, especially when the future of our children is on the line.

The post Climate Ed 101: Teacher Edition appeared first on Earth Day.