What makes a teacher great?

[mgc1961]

The YouTube video shows an anonymous first-grade teacher trying, and failing, to get her students to discuss a book. You see kids yammering away, wandering off, squabbling with each other. The teacher snaps her fingers at one child, sends another to the corner and tells a boy, "You're really bugging me."

My job was to study a roomful of would-be teachers as they watched -- and gauge their reactions to determine if these candidates for a fellowship had what it takes to be "inspired teachers." But what could I really tell about a person's aptitude for teaching from how they responded to a few minutes of video?

When one candidate praised that first-grade teacher for her classroom management -- and then recommended using candy to get the kids to quiet down (Starbursts would be particularly effective, she said) -- even I knew that was the wrong answer.



There's more this article at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/26/AR2010032602232.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

[elleng]

1. 'I know it when I see it.'

[Happyhippychick]

2. I think when a teacher demonstrates respect for thekids, it is reciprocated. Snapping fingers and

banishment to the corner are not the way to do it.

[exboyfil]

4. Respect is a two way street

One of my saddest experiences with my oldest child's education is her coming home telling me how excited she was about her 7th grade World History class. The excitement quickly turned to dissatisfaction as lack of discipline prevented this obviously passionate teacher from teaching to his students. The same can be said for my daughter's 8th grade Science this year.

[Happyhippychick]

6. That's what I'm saying: teachers have to earn their student's respect by giving it to them.

[exboyfil]

8. As far as I can tell he was respecting his students

He was trying to lecture on a fascinating subject, and many (some?) of the students rewarded his efforts with constant disruptions totally destroying the learning experience for the other students who do want to learn. In college you can tell the student to leave and not bother to come back. These teachers do not have that option. The teachers send kids down to the principal's office only to have them return smirking because the only punishment is detention which is probably better than going home to an empty house or nonengaged parents anyway.

The best respect a teacher should have for his/her class is to be prepared and to be passionate about what he/she is teaching. I am not talking about elementary which is admittedly different, but by the time they are 7th graders the kids should be engaged in the learning process, or we should be engaging them in preparation for more non-academic pursuits. They should not be in the same classroom with kids who want to learn.

I keep hearing on this board that the schools are trying to turn kids into corporate drones. If anything I think the sleepwalking that goes on in school has more to do with the parents and not the kids. I remember the same thing when I was the same age. I had a World History teacher who was passionate about his subject and tried to teach only to be mocked and heckled by a significant minority of the class. If the kids don't want to be engaged while learning about the development of Greek democracy or the Roman republic, or learning about the fall of both - then how can they ever be anymore than corporate drones in this society.

[exboyfil]

3. Students who have been primed by their parents

to benefit from the education experience. Otherwise it is an uphill battle where just a few bad apples can ruin the entire class. My daughter is still trying to figure out why some kids are attentive in one class but not another. She got straight As last year as a 7th grader, and except for her Life Sciences class, her Math class (which was not at all challenging but at least got her somewhat ready for Algebra), and her Shop/Art/Home Ec classes, she feels the year was a waste. Discipline was a major issue (still is this year).

This is a Blue Ribbon school.

I plan to homeschool my youngest in English and Social Studies. I may also homeschool in Math if she is not placed in Pre-Algebra (still a running battle with the administration).

For me passion for the subject being taught makes it interesting. Combine that with competence in the subject matter.

Coaches whose first love is sports should not be teaching academic subjects. At the elementary level some teachers just should not be teaching certain subjects (my 6th grader's teacher is excellent except in Math).

[ejpoeta]

5. for me a great teaacher is one that is willing to work WITH me when dealing with my 11 year old.

Emily has ADHD and is in 5th grade. I've had the same discussion with them all.... I want to help them to ensure she is behaving in class and I had a system where a good word from school let her have a half an hour of tv or computer time. One year I couldn't get the teacher to send me home anything to let me know and there went my system!! I feel for the teachers.... they seem to get blamed for a kid not behaving in school. I make sure every teacher I deal with knows that I am not one of those parents. It just seems so much worse.... there was no way i would have ever talked back to a teacher as a kid. you can kind of tell the teachers who are just there for a paycheck from the ones who are there because they love teaching too.... and i am talking about their attitude not their ability to get the kids to listen. i am always in awe of my 4 year old's teacher's ability to get the kids to stand in a line and walk down to class and to do what they are supposed to do. some teachers just have that something that kids respond to.

[Uncle Joe]

7. If I were to boil it down to one word, that would be

empathy.

From empathy; all things flow.

Thanks for the thread, mgc.

[givemebackmycountry]

9. When 37 years later you still remember their name and smile...

I had one of those people in my life.

[Rage Inc.]

10. Not having sex with students is a good start!

This is one issue on which I break with the party, as I have met a few FUCKING LOUSY teachers!