We all know that teaching on the big screen is nothing like teaching in real life. But fictional teachers often have talents and virtues that many real educators bring to their classrooms every day. Answer the questions below to see which imaginary teacher you’re most like.
Which subject would you prefer to teach?
What’s your ideal weekend?
What’s the hardest part of teaching?
What’s the best part of teaching?
If you weren’t a teacher, what would be your next choice?
Which Fictional Teacher Are You? [QUIZ]
John Keating
You’re John Keating (played by Robin Williams) of Dead Poets Society. You see the beauty of art and language everywhere and are passionate about helping your students see it too. You bring charisma and energy to the classroom and push your students out of their comfort zone to be free thinkers and stand up for what they think is right.
Glenn Holland
You’re Glenn Holland (played by Richard Dreyfuss) of Mr. Holland’s Opus. Although you dream of great things outside the classroom, your influence on your school and community has a bigger impact than you may ever realize. You inspire your students and fearlessly pass on the importance of your subject even when others question its value in the school curriculum.
Sharon Norbury
You’re Sharon Norbury (played by Tina Fey) of Mean Girls. You’re a great teacher, but unlike most fictional portrayals of educators, you’re a real person too, with a full life outside of school. You juggle relationships and finances (and maybe even worked a second job here and there), and you keep it real with your colleagues and students—even when they’re deeply alarmed when they see you outside of school.
Lily Aldrin
You’re Lily Aldrin (played by Alyson Hannigan) of How I Met Your Mother. Your artistic soul and nurturing spirit overflows to your students, helping them grow and get in touch with their feelings, and sometimes your caring nature even spills over to teaching and coddling the adults in your life. But watch out: Lily may have a high, lilting voice and not be much taller than her kindergartners, but she also has a fierce, slightly warped sense of justice that even her five-year-olds would know is wrong.
Gabe Kotter
You’re Gabe Kotter (played by Gabe Kaplan) of Welcome Back, Kotter. It doesn’t matter if you’re teaching some of the toughest kids in your school; you’re always going to approach your students with a smile and a quip. You’re laidback, and you value having a good rapport with your students. If anyone’s going to reach the “unteachable” students in your school, it’s going to be you.
John Keating | the English Teacher
Looking for robust strategies to incorporate poetry into your teaching and help students understand the conventions of poetry? Check out our professional development course Be Versatile with Verse: Poetry in the Classroom. In addition to this course, Advancement Courses offers more than 280 online, self-paced PD courses for both graduate and continuing education credit for your salary advancement or recertification needs.
Glenn Holland | the Music Teacher
Following in Mr. Holland’s footsteps, learn how to incorporate music into any subject area or grade level in our professional development course Integrating Music Across Content Areas. In addition to this one, Advancement Courses offers more than 280 online, self-paced PD courses for both graduate and continuing education credit for your salary advancement or recertification needs.
Sharon Norbury | the Math Teacher
If you’re looking to bolster your Mathletes like Ms. Norbury, check out our professional development course Adding Relevance to Teaching Mathematics. You’ll get research-based strategies to promote mathematical inquiry and get your students motivated and excited about math. In addition to this course, Advancement Courses offers more than 280 online, self-paced PD courses for both graduate and continuing education credit for your salary advancement or recertification needs.
Lily Aldrin | the Elementary Teacher
If you want to get in touch with your inner Lily (the gentle teacher side, not the aggressive, slightly scary side), check out Arts Education for Early Learning and Emergent Literacy, a professional development course that helps you incorporate art principles into any subject area. In addition to this one, Advancement Courses offers more than 280 online, self-paced PD courses for both graduate and continuing education credit for your salary advancement or recertification needs.
Gabe Kotter | the High School Teacher
If, like Mr. Kotter, you find yourself teaching some challenging students, check out Supporting Students with Disruptive Behavior Disorder. This professional development course gives you research-based strategies and interventions to help you prevent and manage disruptive behaviors while maintaining a positive, productive learning environment. In addition to this one, Advancement Courses offers more than 280 online, self-paced PD courses for both graduate and continuing education credit for your salary advancement or recertification needs.
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