What Makes a Great Teacher (Part Three)

Jackie ♦ February 1, 2010 ♦ 4 Comments

I have really enjoyed writing this series, and have really enjoyed hearing what you have to say. Here are some of the comments I found to be the most interesting or thought-provoking:

Lauren says:

When the only education experience one has is as a student, it’s difficult to see the classroom from the viewpoint of a teacher. Schools that require and provide a lot of observation hours and give student teachers the chance to assist in real classrooms are providing the best experience

LSM says:

I think I would seem like a great teacher at an easy school like my husband’s but that still wouldn’t make me a teacher inside……He is an amazing teacher and is so passionate and into it – but I doubt he’d last a week at my school, even though he is truly a teacher in his soul.

Geekymom says:

I think that joy, that connection is also about really hearing your students, really accepting their contribution to the class, letting those contributions inform your practice in real ways that students can see……My enthusiasm waxes and wanes depending on the group of students

Becca says:

a good teacher is aware of everything that is going on in her classroom at every moment, from how engaged each student is, to how much of the content each student is grasping (and as you know, those are two different things), to how she needs to shift her teaching moment by moment to engage everyone and help everyone grasp the content. That is the weakness of my worst teachers: they are unable to see the big picture and balance the macro and micro at once

Tammy says:

I really think liking school is a definite pre-requisite to being a good teacher.

Maybe?

I feel like there are so many more posts that could be written in this vein: what do you think?