Ah, the 90s. That lovely decade introduced the Internet, grunge rock, the first Harry Potter novel, and Tamagotchi pets. Jokes often focused on speaking a mistruth and then shouting “NOT” or “PSYCH!” And at the end of it all, everyone got in a tizzy about computers running amok and destroying civilization.
Nostalgia conjures many warm feelings, but we’d wager there’s no better comfort food than rewatching classic 90s television. Seriously, do you remember the shock Danny Tanner felt after Stephanie drove his car through the kitchen? How about the time that Mr. Feeny helped Shawn realize that family can be chosen?
Have you ever thought about which 90s sitcom best exemplifies your teaching style? Take this quiz and find out.
Choose a place to live and teach.
What subject do you teach?
How do you spend your downtime?
Be honest, which best describes your temperament in the classroom?
Which 90s movie do you like best?
Pick a hairstyle.
If you weren’t a teacher, you’d want to be…
Which 90s Sitcom Matches Your Teaching Style?
Saved by the Bell
OK, there’s no way that one principal could dedicate every second of his time to a group of six students. Nevertheless, Saved by the Bell portrays us educators in a positive and vibrant light, despite the unrealistic way the show portrays the teacher–student relationship.
What does this result mean with regard to your teaching style? The Saved by the Bell gang represents a bouquet of personalities. In light of that, it’s likely your teaching style relies on an eclectic cornucopia of methods, go-to activities, and experiments.
Full House
Whatever happened to predictability? The newsman. The paperboy. Evening TV.
Ah, Full House. Now, that’s some quality family programming. This show embodies the wide array of family configurations out there. This hodgepodge boasts a loving father, a free-spirited uncle, and a quirky friend who work together to care for three growing girls. Oh, and there’s also Kimmy Gibbler.
What does this result mean with regard to your teaching style? This result tells us that care and attentiveness stand at the forefront of your classroom management. You may or may not rely on others for help, but no matter what, your students gain access to a warm and nurturing environment.
Home Improvement
Tim “the Tool Man” Taylor grunted a lot. He also injured himself with an alarming frequency. The boo-boos and small explosions happened in light of Mr. Taylor’s adoration of power tools and home improvement projects. Does that have anything to do with teaching? We think so. That’s because trial and error is a vital process of learning (though we’re not expecting any mishaps like the show portrays).
What does this result mean with regard to your teaching style? It means you look at a student’s “failure” as a pathway to success. In addition, your alignment with Home Improvement means you value experimentation and project-based learning.
Boy Meets World
All right, we’ll be honest. We’re Boy Meets World fans, but this show has a major problem. No teacher is as perfect as the screenwriters portray Mr. George Feeny. There’s no way that one educator holds the perfect answer to every academic and interpersonal quandary. Regardless, the show might line up quite well with your classroom conductorship.
What does this result mean with regard to your teaching style? It means that you truly love the profession and couldn’t see yourself doing anything else. After all, we’d argue that Feeny is perhaps the most famous TV teacher this side of Mr. Cotter. There’s a good reason for that: The man was wickedly good at his job.
Family Matters
Nerdiness is chic these days. Educators delight in this fact, as the culture boasts the tenets of knowledge, enthusiasm, and dedication to the continuation of learning. We can’t deny that the bespectacled, suspendered, polka-dancing Steve Urkel played a sizable role in the proliferation of intelligence culture. Teachers, perhaps, are the most grateful for the shift in social attitudes.
What does this result mean with regard to your teaching style? It means you instill passionate enthusiasm in your students, sparking interests and curiosities that may last a lifetime. The world is better for it, too.
Step by Step
You form one partnership or try one idea, and through some sort of cosmic interference, that alliance falls flat. That doesn’t mean failure—it means opportunity. That’s kind of the thesis that drives Step by Step’s narrative forward. Families came together to form a more cohesive, more powerful unit. If that dynamic doesn’t translate to the classroom, then what does?
What does this result mean with regard to your teaching style? It means you focus on empowering the students in a way that fosters the health of their interpersonal relationships.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
After getting into a basketball court scuffle, the Fresh Prince begins anew in a posh southern California neighborhood. While fresh starts rarely require cross-country relocation, getting a clean slate is so important, especially for young people. Luckily, the classroom is a place where new beginnings happen every day.
What does this result mean with regard to your teaching style? It’s teachers like you who give kids chances, help them up when they fall, and bolster them when they succeed. Every day in your classroom, kids walk into an environment where they can feel accepted and cared for.
Dinosaurs
Surely you remember Dinosaurs? It was the prehistoric television program that featured the mischievous baby who pelted his dad with a frying pan (or another instrument of destruction) in every episode. While the species may have changed, the trials and tribulations of being a family drove the show’s storytelling. But all in all, it’s the uniqueness of Dinosaurs we remember most fondly.
What does this result mean with regard to your teaching style? It means that your classroom is quirky, a little unorthodox, and a whole lot of fun. You may not take the traditional approach to pedagogy, but you better believe there’s some serious learning going on. Your students will remember you. That’s for sure.
Ready for PD that Comes with a Mr. Feeny Stamp of Approval?
To ensure you have a long-lasting, balanced career in teaching, check out these professional development courses from Advancement Courses:
Self-Care Strategies for Teachers: Create long-term self-care strategies so you can build a more grounded, inspired, and sustainable career in education and better manage stressful situations.
Stress Reduction for Better Teaching: Develop tools to better manage the stress of teaching and improve your ability to fully enjoy the greatest job on earth while being completely present for your students.
Beyond Survival Mode: Maintaining Your Passion Throughout Your Teaching Career: Many teachers start their careers full of inspiration, but the path to becoming a master teacher is filled with challenges and roadblocks. How do successful teachers keep that fire burning within them? Learn how to move beyond survival mode and keep a passion for teaching throughout your career.
Staying Present: Mindfulness for Better Teaching and Learning: When teachers and students are centered and able to manage their emotions, they are more successful in and out of school. This course provides tools to create a culture where every member of your class is mindful and able to stay present even in stressful situations.
Becoming a Calm, Happy Teacher: Leave burnout, stress, and frustration behind for good. In this course, you’ll use proven psychological tools to help you create a calmer, more balanced teaching career so you can be more present and energetic in every area of your life.
Choose from 280+ online, self-paced continuing education courses for teacher salary advancement and recertification. Available for either CEU/clock hours or in partnership with regionally-accredited universities for graduate credit.