Reflections From a Country Girl

What makes a good teacher?  I suspect we all have experienced at least one good teacher in our lifetime.  After all, each of us had that teacher/student experience and we probably figured out what was good about the process…even if we were home schooled.

I have had the privilege to work with thousands of teachers and to see many of them in action.  Not that this makes me an expert, mind you.  But I’ve also talked to many more students who are not scared to say what they like about their teachers. Here is my list of characteristics of the exceptional teachers I know personally or have come in contact with or heard about through my life.  It’s probably not far from yours.  Feel free to add a few more if you find I missed some. Exceptional teachers are: 

1.      knowledgeable and passionate about the subject(s) they teach.

2.      confident when it comes to using their knowledge to spark the pleasure of learning in each and every student that walks into their classroom.

3.      those that welcome constructive criticism on their quest for becoming a better teacher.

4.      experts in knowing how to manage a classroom full of energy – both positive and negative.

5.      those people who NEVER stop learning.

6.      those that collaborate with and learn from fellow teachers and colleagues and ALWAYS look for opportunities to uplift the school community. 

7.      risktakers.

8.      those who show a love for all students  – but particularly the ones that need an extra boost.

.9.      those who spot a troubled child a mile away and who make sure that child knows they are there for them.

10.      those who exude a positive, can do personality when surrounded by the doubting Thomas’ of the world…but who embrace those people as full of positive possibilities, too.

11.      problem solvers.

12.      those who NEVER give up on any student.

13.      those that students seek out, visit with in the classroom, and come back to see after graduation. 

14.      those who get a letter from a student years later thanking the teacher for hanging in there with them when no one else did.

15.      don’t expect anything extra in return for their efforts but who deserve it on a daily basis.

16.      Worth their weight in gold.

I know several of these.  Do you? One is my sister. I just wish there were more out there that fit this description.

My wish for you today is that you have known many of these in your lifetime.  If you fit this category then my wish for you today is that you keep up the good work and spread your passion to others.  If you are a teacher still striving to become exceptional, my wish for you today is that you strive to become like the person described above.  We need more of you out there.

~ Joellen

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 11th, 2007 at 7:30:am and is filed under Education. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.