What Makes a Good Teacher?

[Lirael]

In about a year's time, I am going to be a secondary teacher. It's going to be a challenge, but I'm very much looking forward to it!

I thought it would be interesting to discuss what makes a good teacher! There are obviously a number of common answers to this, but we have all been in school and have all developed our own personal list of good and bad teachers.

Think back on those school days! Who were your best teachers? Who were your worst? What made them good/bad?

I've been asking the kids at work about this too. I think it's interesting to see what students think, to hear their opinion. My teaching style will come through practise, with a little trial and error, after a few mistakes - but it's a topic I love discussing!

So yeah, over to you all!

 

[PhoenyxAngel]

From my experience as a student: I always liked a teacher who made the lessons more fun. Especially when I was younger (Elementary through High School). Maybe even a little now that I've been in college for a while. Really take interest in what you're teaching and show that you really are enthusiastic about the subject. The teachers and the professors who showed enthusiasm about what they were teaching were always the best teachers.

And try to do activities that will get students involved. That always made classes fun. Just no team projects. They're extremely annoying.

 

[Will Graham]

You wont be a great teacher right away, you will have to get your head around that I suppose. My favourite teacher in school had perfect control over the class, and no one ever gave him cheek. He also had great rapport with all of us, so naturally I assumed he was always like this. In one of our last classes though he mentioned he got plenty of stick from pupils when he started as a teacher. It will take time for you to come into your own

When students text, talk, fall asleep, don't show up, or don't do homework that kind of thing, don't get offended. It's not a slight on you as a person or teacher, it's usually a boring topic or a nice day out. I only mention this because we'd a number of student teachers one year, and they used to take it to heart when you were messing in the back of class. Thinking the students hated them, when really playing 'would you rather' was just more fun than the present participle.

 

[Lirael]

You wont be a great teacher right away, you will have to get your head around that I suppose. My favourite teacher in school had perfect control over the class, and no one ever gave him cheek. He also had great rapport with all of us, so naturally I assumed he was always like this. In one of our last classes though he mentioned he got plenty of stick from pupils when he started as a teacher. It will take time for you to come into your own

When students text, talk, fall asleep, don't show up, or don't do homework that kind of thing, don't get offended. It's not a slight on you as a person or teacher, it's usually a boring topic or a nice day out. I only mention this because we'd a number of student teachers one year, and they used to take it to heart when you were messing in the back of class. Thinking the students hated them, when really playing 'would you rather' was just more fun than the present participle.

Oh gosh, yeah, I'm prepared for all of this. I've been talking to the kids at work about how it's important for teachers to remember that kids are kids; they rarely misbehave because they dislike a teacher.

I also feel it's important not to shout at one student when they misbehave or forget their homework. Shouting either angers a teenager or makes them feel embarrassed, and neither help to maintain a positive atmosphere. Quietly dropping names in order to maintain control over a class and nip things in the bud before they escalate seems to be a good tactic; just a small, brief, firm warning in a low voice to remind the child that talking isn't currently appropriate!

I certainly don't expect to be great at first. My mum is a teacher too - she put me off for years, but I discovered my own passion for the subject and teaching as I grew up. When she started, the students were TERRIBLE. One even threw her over a desk. But kids will be kids. They sometimes target new teachers because previous teachers (or parents) have caused them to lose faith in school and education. Sticking it to a new teacher is an easy way of just showing the whole system that you 'don't care,' when in truth, I suppose, the system has just failed them. I don't think ALL children are suited to education, and I certainly plan to value children for the effort; those who don't find English easy will be praised by me as much as those who are top of the class as long as they work their best.

Once I've established myself, it'll be easier to introduce my own personal system. I believe that students should be taught about the importance of learning in general. They should be taught how to learn and how to enjoy learning; they should be given an energy for learning. They should be encouraged to pursue the route that suits them, be that in English, Science, Maths, History, French, Music.

I didn't like it when teachers insisted their THEIR subject was the most important. Two or three of mine told our class that THEIR homework was more important than, say, our homework in History. Sometimes, we felt overwhelmed by the list of essays we were given, and the teachers responded by telling us that the other subject could be sacrificed; we had to focus on theirs. Some would even say, 'I'll tell Mr. X that you don't have to do his homework this week; this is more important.' They never did. Anyway, I think that's a TERRIBLE method to use. All of the subjects are of equal importance. Some are more vocational than others; some will be more useful later on when choosing a career (I speak of the key subjects which look good on CV to a variety of employers). But every student is different and every student should be supported in their decisions, whether they want to be a doctor, an English teacher, a musician or an accountant.

To wrap this up, I go back to an earlier point. Teachers should, first and foremost, make their lessons interesting and teach students about how to enjoy learning in general. They should help students enjoy discovery; equip them with tools they can use as they follow their own pathway.

 

[PhoenyxAngel]

Oh gosh, yeah, I'm prepared for all of this. I've been talking to the kids at work about how it's important for teachers to remember that kids are kids; they rarely misbehave because they dislike a teacher.

I also feel it's important not to shout at one student when they misbehave or forget their homework. Shouting either angers a teenager or makes them feel embarrassed, and neither help to maintain a positive atmosphere. Quietly dropping names in order to maintain control over a class and nip things in the bud before they escalate seems to be a good tactic; just a small, brief, firm warning in a low voice to remind the child that talking isn't currently appropriate!

I certainly don't expect to be great at first. My mum is a teacher too - she put me off for years, but I discovered my own passion for the subject and teaching as I grew up. When she started, the students were TERRIBLE. One even threw her over a desk. But kids will be kids. They sometimes target new teachers because previous teachers (or parents) have caused them to lose faith in school and education. Sticking it to a new teacher is an easy way of just showing the whole system that you 'don't care,' when in truth, I suppose, the system has just failed them. I don't think ALL children are suited to education, and I certainly plan to value children for the effort; those who don't find English easy will be praised by me as much as those who are top of the class as long as they work their best.

Once I've established myself, it'll be easier to introduce my own personal system. I believe that students should be taught about the importance of learning in general. They should be taught how to learn and how to enjoy learning; they should be given an energy for learning. They should be encouraged to pursue the route that suits them, be that in English, Science, Maths, History, French, Music.

I didn't like it when teachers insisted their THEIR subject was the most important. Two or three of mine told our class that THEIR homework was more important than, say, our homework in History. Sometimes, we felt overwhelmed by the list of essays we were given, and the teachers responded by telling us that the other subject could be sacrificed; we had to focus on theirs. Some would even say, 'I'll tell Mr. X that you don't have to do his homework this week; this is more important.' They never did. Anyway, I think that's a TERRIBLE method to use. All of the subjects are of equal importance. Some are more vocational than others; some will be more useful later on when choosing a career (I speak of the key subjects which look good on CV to a variety of employers). But every student is different and every student should be supported in their decisions, whether they want to be a doctor, an English teacher, a musician or an accountant.

To wrap this up, I go back to an earlier point. Teachers should, first and foremost, make their lessons interesting and teach students about how to enjoy learning in general. They should help students enjoy discovery; equip them with tools they can use as they follow their own pathway.

I agree that singling out students can be extremely embarrassing for them. Unless they're doing something bad that needs to be addressed right away, save it for after class. As for the teachers believing their class was more important that other classes: I agree with that. That would often get on my nerves, especially when they would assign numerous homework assignments, plus the studying you have to do, and would get angry if you don't get it all done by the next class. Teachers like that don't realize that students have several other classes to worry about, and they may have jobs and something called a life. It would get really frustrating. But I mainly had that problem with college professors rather than high school teachers.

 

[Omegadruid]

Well as an english teacher one important thing to keep in mind is the topics of the compositions/essays or any written assignment. Always pick something that students will be eager to write about. This last 2 years I had a fantastic english teacher that always chose non cliché interesting topics to write about. Also after analyzing texts of a specific theme make sure to create a debate atmosphere in the class, get the students interested in the topic, make them think and that will raise awareness towards the topic in discussion and raise their attention for future classes.. This might be a bad analogy but take for instance final fantasy games, they have a very important quality, their stories and environments are very immersive. Try to bring the immersive aspect of the subjects at hand out and students will have a great time! This of course comes from experience, I hope I said something useful.

 

[Goober]

Big boobs, little homework, being a girl anywhere from age 20~38 and being promiscuous.