Reading the signs

Astrologists believe that the stars and planets shape each individual's per­sonality and destiny. But does this celestial typecasting ex­tend to teaching style and classroom management? Does it forecast such qualities as intellectual excitement, creativity, and a dedication to communicating knowledge? For astrologers, the answer is a simple Yes. And for teachers? Call it an educated guess!

ARIES
(March 21-April 20)

The teacher born under the sign of the Ram are typically pioneering, rebel­lious, and enterprising. They forge new educational ap­proaches and present even complex material in a dynamic, imaginative fashion. Students are drawn to the Aries warmth and spontaneity. No dull class­rooms for Aries educators!

Wise Aries teachers will attempt to avoid the intellec­tual arrogance that comes nat­urally to them. Likewise, head­strong Aries teachers must learn to control and direct, rather than dominate, any difficult students and learning situa­tions they might come across. But with their energy, enthu­siasm, and sincerity, Aries teachers are typically treasured by both their peers and their students.

TAURUS
(April 21-May 21)

PRACTICAL, GENTLE, AND patient, Taureans seem bom to teach. They ate thor­ough in their planning and dogged in their determination to make learning an interest­ing and pleasant challenge. This sensible educational approach, along with their easygoing attitude toward life, transforms the occasional school-days drudgery into full-time fun.

Taurus teachers tend to be both opinionated and conser­vative-two characteristics they must face (and often suppress) in the classroom. They must also force themselves to experiment-not the path of choice for tradition-oriented Taurus. But Taurus teachers, determined to excel, find a variety of ways to combine the predictable with the mag­ical in their daily classroom performance.

GEMINI
(May 22-June 21)

GEMINI TEACHERS TEND to live in their minds- exactly the right place for inspiration! They are versatile, witty, and lively and can easily transform the classroom into a combination think tank and playground. Students respond to Gemini's high-spirited bril­liance, while Gemini teachers genuinely appreciate the pas­sions of youth-and are deter­mined to help shape them.

One major challenge is organization. Because Geminis dread routine tasks, their style is often scattered and chaotic. Fortunately, youthful minds can cope quite easily with such teacherly turmoil. But perhaps Geminis should ask themselves, wouldn't it be more productive if they actually knew where their grade books were at any given moment?

CANCER
(June 22-July 23)

CANCER IS RULED BY THE Moon-and the Moon gives Cancerian teachers a wealth of classroom talents. They are typ­ically artistic, imaginative, wise, and unpredictable. And because Cancerian teachers are super- sensitive to their students, they frequently discover alter­native educational paths to each individual-and manage to keep the whole group involved in learning too.

However, Cancerian teachers run the risk of too much involve­ment. They must remember to set boundaries for themselves- and to guard them. All work and no play is exhausting and it's up to each Cancerian teacher to sidestep this predictable pitfall.

LEO
(July 24-August 23)

All TEACHERS KNOW THAT the classroom is a stage and there's no more willing performer than a Leo In fact, Leos crave the spotlight and are happiest when it's a solo act The good news is that they also deliver. For Leo teachers, it's not about dramatic antics; it's about the real thing: edu­cation. Their theatricality is just an added bonus!

Leo teachers love a chal­lenge, and their creativity is boundless. Add to that their sunny dispositions and natural authority, and it's a recipe for school success. Once Leos learn to curb their impatience, they find smooth sailing in the classroom-and in life.

VIRGO
(August 24-September 23}

SHARP ANALYTICAL SKILLS, an inquiring mind, and mental precision-these are the qualities of typical Virgo teachers. Their practicality compels them to streamline their teaching techniques into models of efficiency and their humanitarian impulses guar­antee that the ends as well as the means are both respectful and interesting.

Virgos have the astrologi­cal reputation of being hyper­critical. Careful Virgo teachers channel these powers of observation and analysis into positive feedback-and stu­dents thrive. Virgo teachers take a mental spark and fan it until it blazes with intellectual brilliance; then they step aside and let their students shine.

LIBRA
(September 24-October 23)

AIR SIGNS TEND TO BE analytical, objective, and intellectually oriented. Libra is an air sign and Libran teach­ers personify these airy traits. They value balance, careful examination of all sides of an issue, and fairness above all. Consequently, they are gifted, thoughtful teachers.

The Libran teacher seeks (and builds) a harmonious classroom in which each opin­ion is valued and each student learns to apply rules of logic- and humanitarianism. Librans are a mysterious mix of ideal­istic and realistic, a combina­tion that allows them to respect and accept the stu­dents as they are and simulta­neously to prepare them to be all that they can be.

SCORPIO
(October 24-November 22)

SCORPIO TEACHERS ARE like private detectives: They won't rest until they have the right answer. Creative as well, they typically transform learning into an intriguing puzzle. Their students are hap- pily drawn into the game by the Scorpio magnetism and humor. Teachers born under this sign tend to be intuitive in their approach. They rely on text­books to a certain extent; after that, it's a mystery! Scorpio teachers combine intense pow­ers of observation with clarityin explanation. They also in­stinctively know the best way to encourage students to take risks-and reap the educational rewards forever after.

SAGITTARIUS
(November 23-December 21)

FOR SAGITTARIUS TEACHERS logic is everything They are on a quest for answers and, once they find them, they feel compelled to spread the news Because Sagittanans are typically charming, witty, and bright, their messages are quickly embraced and stu­dents learn without struggle.

Sagittarians are often trav­elers-in the real world and the inner realm of the imagination too. Consequently, they bring vitality, freshness, and a broad perspective to teaching.

Interested in the well-being of the planet and every being on it, Sagittarian teachers cover the basics and simultaneously instill an awareness of the big 'picture in one brilliant stroke.

CAPRICORN
(December 22-January 20)

THE ASTROIOCICAl SIGN Capricorn is ruled by the planet Saturn, which symbol­izes the forces of constriction, limitation, and self-discipline. This often leads to a very seri­ous, practical approach to both teaching and classroom man­agement. Capricorn teachers typically rely on the tried-and-true . . . and they get results.

Common sense and a gift for planning also characterize the Capricornian. This teacher is not one to "wing it" or show up in the classroom under-prepared. The typical learning atmosphere is one of quiet industry and goal orienta­tion-a winning situation for the teacher as well as the stu­dents, who thrive under Cap­ricorn's careful, professional direction.

AQUARIUS
(January 2i-February 19)

BORN IN AN AIR SIGN Aquarians make excellent teachers because they love the life of the mind Ideas, con­cepts, and theories are food to Aquarians and putting their ideas into practice is a reward in itself. They love a challenge and often consider teaching the greatest challenge of them all. Aquarian teachers tend to be creative, confident, and cooperative. They believe that learning is a group effort-and the bigger the group, the bet­ter the effort. So it's unlikely that an Aquarius will elect to teach by the lecture method. Instead, learning becomes an educational scavenger hunt- and everybody, including the teacher, wins!

PISCES
(February 20-March 20)

INTUITIVE, COMPASSIONATE and wise, Pisces teachers take a gentle approach to teaching. They are able to encourage students without pressunig them and they cre­ate a safe, comfortable class- room atmosphere in which even the most shy students can learn to shine.

A rare combination of managerial skill and dreamy imagination, Pisces teachers slip across educational borders that stymie other profession­als. They are innovators without bothersome egos and they are not prone to rest on their laurels. There's always another task to complete, another idea to teach, and another student in need of inspiration.