What Makes A Good Teacher? (603 hits)
Category: GeneralRating: 1.9 on 22 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by WookieSuave (View user info) at 2007-03-06 04:02:38 EST
The million dollar question is presented. What makes a school powerful, and what are good qualities of a teacher? I could list off the expected, partially clichéd list that litters text-books and minds of the general public, but I won't. In no way do I think that those particular lists are wrong, but frankly that just isn't the way I roll. In the grand scheme of the whole deal, I have narrowed my list down to three crucial characteristics.
COMFORT---- DEDICATION---- ENTERTAINMENT
Yup, that's it, and that's all. It's not rocket science, it's not pretty but it's what I plan to bring to this party that we call education.
Comfort:
It isn't until I had a couple of shots of Jack Daniels and found myself in my living room with some stimulating music and the lights dimmed that I was able to relax and churn out some of my best works of literary genius. I'm not implying that whiskey is the answer, but I have always had a difficult time curling up comfortably in a cold metal seat under awkward halogen bulbs and producing anything that I really want to be viewed by critics wielding red pens and mark books. Dim the lights, add some music, remove tension and make students comfortable. The Mona Lisa wasn't painted in a classroom, and I'm pretty sure Shakespeare didn't write in one either. Making students comfortable is crucial. If for a moment a student can forget he is sitting in a classroom, you will likely be amazed at the freedom of their mind and what they are truly capable of.
Dedication:
If you are a carpenter, be dedicated to what you do. If you're a police officer, be dedicated to what you do. If you are a teacher, be dedicated to what you do. Love your craft, grow with it, and change along side it. If you are dedicated, those other clichéd characteristics will come. Be dedicated to the massive responsibility that is bettering children. If you are, you'll be fair, you'll be prepared, you'll be understanding. If you're truly involved with this wonderfully important lifestyle, you will do the right thing, you will teach with passion, you will inspire. When a carpenter half-asses his job, a house can crumble. If a police officer isn't dedicated, people can end up hurt or killed. Before you become a teacher, ask yourself........ Are you dedicated?
Entertainment:
I probably can't name all of the United States and their capitals. I likely can't tell you how to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius properly, and under no circumstance can I give you any details of the Trojan War outside of the apparent existence of a giant wooden horse. However, I can tell you that George Jetson's hair is orange. I can also tell you who lives with him, everyone in fact: daughter Judy, his boy Elroy, Jane his wife. Hell, even the opening theme song doesn't mention his loyal dog Astro, the robot maid Rosie, Elroy's color changing pet Orbity, and Judy's sarcastic talking diary. I know that Meatloaf would do anything for love, with the exception of "that". Tony Montana is a political prisoner from Cuba and his best friend Manny was supposed to tell immigration officials he was in a sanitarium, not working in sanitation. Incredible; the storage capacity of one's brain, when they find stimulus entertaining. Have fun with students, bring laughter to a mundane school day ask open ended questions that make their minds work beyond the original lesson plan.
I am not yet a teacher, but I know I had some very inspiring teachers in my time, and I know that I had some working in a profession they had no business. Do I have the qualities to become a good teacher? Some may say yes, some may say now, but I am now on my path, dedicated, nervous, and excited.
User Reviews
Submitted by MidnightToSix (user info) at 2007-03-07 20:34:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Good teachers are few and far between.
Submitted by diavola (user info) at 2007-03-06 23:29:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I once taught an English class where I turned off all the lights and had the students be still and just listen to music. I then had them write down whatever had happened in their heads while listening. It was the most beautiful and poetic writing I'd ever seen from that class.
+2.
Submitted by coley (user info) at 2007-03-06 18:57:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Teachers, GOOD teachers, rock. What makes a good teacher to me is one that doesn't talk down to their students, one that remembers that there was a time when they, too were learning...a teacher that takes no crap but isn't a drill sergeant; a teacher that works to make each learning experience so interesting and involving that people forget for a second that they're *gasp* LEARNING.
I have had a few very awesome teachers in my day; junior high, high school, and some college professors.
I'll definitely never forget any of the ones that fit the above description.
Submitted by phauna (user info) at 2007-03-06 18:03:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Being a good teacher is harder for some than for others. The main problem is, while being a good Music teacher is relatively easy, being a good Maths teacher isn't. Obviously music is interesting to most people, and is creative, fun etc. all things that most people would not say about maths. It's not just the teacher's fault for not making maths fun, it's just mainly a hard slog. However I do agree that most things can be entertaining, if not enjoyable, if one puts the time and thought into making it so.
Of course, I'm now outed as a teacher, originally trained as a science teacher but bailed out into English language teaching for the travel opportunities. English language teaching is easily made into something enjoyable, fun, entertaining, it's also easy to make people feel comfortable. There are plenty of dire teachers though. At the moment I am learning Japanese to move there and our teacher is a nice yet terrible teacher. She pretty much lectures the whole time, giving us no time to practise, question or think about anything.
The other thing i wanted to say was that most school systems no longer allow the freedom of activity and curriculum as they once did, stifling innovative and creative teaching. It's hard to take your kids outside (need permission notes), teach from outside resources (copyright issues, especially a problem in English language teaching) or divert from the curriculum (parents expect a certain thing to be done in a certain time). Just ignore all those issues and do that stuff if you want. One of the best things about teaching is that you are your own boss.
Ah, also, if you are teaching younger kids, try to remember that most subject areas are not really about teaching content so much as skills. A twelve year old's history lesson will be forgotten by adulthood, but the thinking involved, the writing comprehension, the debating and discussion were important and formative. They can learn all that content stuff later in high school.
And thanks for saying such a nice thing about my cock, man, that was cool of you.
Submitted by TheUniter (user info) at 2007-03-06 17:04:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by zajebisty (user info) at 2007-03-06 16:52:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I work as a mental health care worker in an adolecent psych hospital. i can definitely vouch for the entertainment aspect of the job. I consider this particular line of work to be "full contact life skills education." Kudos to all who care for other people's kids.
Submitted by maiorano84 (user info) at 2007-03-06 15:54:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I wish one of my teachers had sex with me......
Submitted by Abbey (user info) at 2007-03-06 12:52:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Great post. I've been a teacher for 21 years. I NEVER thought I'd say that, but somehow these buggers keep calling me back. I actually enjoy them, and mess with them a lot. I have a very dry, sarcastic style of humor...it takes them a bit to figure out I'm only kidding. They're only 11/12, but are at that point in their life where they actually get some humor, but are still humbled. You don't go into teaching for money or fame. You love the process of learning.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2007-03-06 12:47:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by lungfish (user info) at 2007-03-06 07:09:51 (#)
Ranking: 2
I've found that my best teachers were the ones I hated, initially, then came to love.
-----
that's always the way that works, the hardasses at that time that you hated became the ones you respect as an adult because you realize that they were trying to beat some sense into your dumb-punk ass...
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2007-03-06 11:09:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This is a good quality post.
Submitted by tiaprae (user info) at 2007-03-06 10:43:41 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
If you are going into teaching:
1. Thank you, we need more people who are willing to sacrifice emotionally and financially to educate children.
2. Please teach my little sister. Last night she claimed that Iraq and Iran were the same place. I am concerned.
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2007-03-06 10:08:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Sounds like you have the right attitude.
-Dave
Submitted by wookie (user info) at 2007-03-06 09:33:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by mynameisandy (user info) at 2007-03-06 09:27:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I wish I had teachers like that. All mine were fucking nazis.
Good luck.
Submitted by Flying_buttmonkey (user info) at 2007-03-06 07:56:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I was an asshole at school. I feel bad about it now, some of my teachers were awesome.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2007-03-06 07:43:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
You get summers off, too.
Submitted by sicosemen (user info) at 2007-03-06 07:31:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by lungfish (user info) at 2007-03-06 07:09:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I've found that my best teachers were the ones I hated, initially, then came to love.
Submitted by rorrim (user info) at 2007-03-06 06:52:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by whiskey_jack (user info) at 2007-03-06 05:52:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Flack (user info) at 2007-03-06 04:55:08 (#)
Ranking: 2
My mother has been a teacher since before I was born.
In the past 26 years, she has taught everything from elemantary music to high school honors American History.
Most student of her's past and present, usually say the floowing things about her:
"Mrs. V is so much fun."
"She made me love music."
"She's the only teacher I could ever relate to."
"I hope she teaches my kids when they attend ______ school."
My mother is the most dedicated teacher I ever met, keeping students on their toes by making them question what they have already learned. She has gotten in trouble with administration by having her choir sings songs like "Don't Fear The Reaper" adn "Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts" and when administration tell her she can't do it, she throws the fact that she will use whatever she can, be it Beethoven or Blue Oyster Cult, to make her students understand and love music. She is a rebel in the world of American History education, keeping students wondering when she refuses to sugarcoat lessons like who really discovered America, slavery, and the cold war.
She says that teaching has burnt her out now, and she's counting the few years she has left before retirement, but I know the moment she leaves teaching, the only thing she will want to do is get back in the classroom.
In summation, my mom kicks ass
*******************
Plus she sucks a mean cock.
oh you had to have seen this coming ya twats!
Submitted by Flack (user info) at 2007-03-06 04:55:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
My mother has been a teacher since before I was born.
In the past 26 years, she has taught everything from elemantary music to high school honors American History.
Most student of her's past and present, usually say the floowing things about her:
"Mrs. V is so much fun."
"She made me love music."
"She's the only teacher I could ever relate to."
"I hope she teaches my kids when they attend ______ school."
My mother is the most dedicated teacher I ever met, keeping students on their toes by making them question what they have already learned. She has gotten in trouble with administration by having her choir sings songs like "Don't Fear The Reaper" adn "Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts" and when administration tell her she can't do it, she throws the fact that she will use whatever she can, be it Beethoven or Blue Oyster Cult, to make her students understand and love music. She is a rebel in the world of American History education, keeping students wondering when she refuses to sugarcoat lessons like who really discovered America, slavery, and the cold war.
She says that teaching has burnt her out now, and she's counting the few years she has left before retirement, but I know the moment she leaves teaching, the only thing she will want to do is get back in the classroom.
In summation, my mom kicks ass.
Submitted by jfreakman (user info) at 2007-03-06 04:05:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
While you are right...
oh forget it. you're right.