A gentle reminder ...

The goal of this blog initially was for Mr. Mc to show his students and friends what he doing while in Pennsylvania and DC in 2011. Now it's being used as a place for him, travelling colleagues and former students to discuss edumacation and history related "stuff" as well as ... well, anything which pops into his head. Mr. Mc would never knowingly embarrass either the school he loves or the family he is devoted to. By joining in the discussion, he expects the same of you.

Friday, January 31, 2014

What makes teaching 'great'?

Ok, I have an thought experiment I want to get your help with. I'm going to ask you to comment on a question which was posed by someone I follow on Twitter. Jim Knight, an Instructional Coach connected with the Kansas Coaching Project and webmaster of the website Radical Learners, asked:


 
Before I gave my response...which will have to come at a later date (unless you follow me on twitter) ...I asked:
 


I've been thinking about that question for the better part of the afternoon so I thought I would throw it out to the world wide interwebby thing.
 
In the comments below, would you please offer a response to the question: What principles make for a GREAT teacher? Please identify if you are a parent, student, teacher or administrator.
 
If you would, would you send the link to your circle of peeps and ask them to respond? I am really curious to seeing what the responses look like.
 
I decided that, with my blog, I wouldn't write until I had something to say. I don't know that I can improve upon the silence but, a good question is a good question.
 
dm


8 comments:

  1. What makes a great teacher- flexibility to different learning styles/speeds. Also, not being a pushover, but realizing that sometimes things just can't happen. One of my math teachers had a system where if something happened the night before (a crazy amount of work for other classes, a family incident, etc.), she would allow you extra time to do the assignment (only a certain amount of times, with reasonable excuses). It was really nice to know that she would understand if it just wasn't possible, and I was saved from that stress.

    I'm a student!

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    1. Thanks, Rachel. I like your math teacher! Hey, ask your friends to read and respond. I would love to hear what ya'll think!

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  2. A great teacher is someone who is not afraid to diverge from the traditional styles of teaching. Standard lectures lose students' focus after 15 minutes. Even the most dedicated student has problems staying interested. Incorporating all the different types of learning styles (auditory, visual, kinesthetic) can help each student succeed, plus if you use really fun activities the students will most likely enjoy the class more. I took three classes purely to have the same teacher; she would lecture for maybe half the period and then have the students split into groups to work on various assignments (FRQs, DBQs, ect). She was also very passionate about what she taught, and it was evident in her composure while lecturing. Passion may be the most important aspect of teaching. The students are going to respond more to a teacher who loves what he/she teaches than to one who does not.

    I am a student!

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    1. Thanks for the reply! I like your comment about students putting up with something for about 15 minutes. A 47-minute lecture, no matter how passionate, is a long time for most students. Heck, its a long time for most adults!

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  3. I agree with both comments so far, and I would add that a great teacher genuinely cares about his/her students and their learning success. I had several teachers when I was growing up who seemed to barely care that I was there, and I'm pretty sure some of them didn't even know my name! Needless to say, I think my early years of education suffered because of it.

    The other detail I would add is that a great teacher knows the practical "real life" significance of what they are teaching. This can apply to basic skills like reading and numbers all the way to advanced literature comprehension, math, science and history. The point of teaching is to equip students with what they need to have a successful, independent adulthood. If learning is arbitrary, not only do the students lose interest, it is literally a waste of their time.

    I'm writing this as a homeschooling parent.

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    1. Thanks, Em! I had a conversation with an administrator the other day and I said that my job was to prepare students for Upper School; Upper School's was to prepare students for college and college for life. I want to amend my statement to make it clear that part of school is about preparing them for the real world they'll encounter as teens and young adults on the other side of the schoolhouse door. I think that is why I like teaching research...a real world skill necessary for success both in school and actual life.

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  4. I say it boils down to passion. Passion for who and what you teach, passion for learning, passion for making a difference. The teachers who have really made a difference in my life were not content to sit back and maintain the status quo. They actively sought ways to engage me. I try to do that for my students today. I don't want to be bored, and they shouldn't have to be, either!

    I am a public school 5th grade teacher.

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    1. Thanks, Amanda.
      I have to admit that I struggle with the word passion. Passion unfocused and undirected can hold a student's attention for awhile but doesn't encourage depth. I think you need passion with intention. I agree with not accepting the status quo. I think that the minute I think I've got teaching all 'figured out', its time for me to get out of the classroom.

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