Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Teachers (07/12/04)
TITLE: What makes a good teacher? By Karen Treharne 07/13/04 |
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How would you describe a good teacher? Is it someone who invests vast amounts of time in preparation? Or is it the person who spends limitless time with their students? Or maybe the one who blocks away endless hours for private prayer and devotion?
Are good teachers ones who expand their vision of education from the tangibles of academic achievement, to encompass daily doses of compassion, flexibility, communication, humor, imagination, and the willingness to be open-minded? Is a good teacher someone who uses both their head and heart in equal measure throughout the school day?
These are all great ideas and wonderful traits. But perhaps a child’s perspective of what makes a good teacher is the best place to find the answer to this question:
• My teacher smiles at me.
• My teacher really likes me a lot.
• My teacher misses me when I don’t come in.
• I learn a lot in my class.
• It’s OK; my teacher will show me how.
• My teacher helps us learn to write small.
• My teacher takes us outside to play at recess.
• My teacher will always love her kids.
• My teacher reads books to know what to teach us.
• My teacher is a good listener.
• My teacher’s never late for school.
• My teacher gives homework to us.
• My teacher lets us read and reads with us.
• My teacher gives us parties.
• My teacher is organized and always ready for us.
• My teacher is always fair and respects all of us.
• My teacher has good manners and doesn’t do bad things.
• My teacher has good ideas.
So what is a good teacher? I think a teacher should be good at explaining things. A teacher should be fun but challenging. A good teacher should like teaching.
308 words
Copyright 2004