Upon Reflection...
What I Know
About Being a Teacher
I once read a quote from David O. McKay, ninth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He said “No greater responsibility can rest upon any man [or woman], than to be a teacher of God’s
children” (David O. McKay, Ensign, May 1998, 25). He was speaking specifically
about teaching in a religious setting, but I think that it carries over into all teaching.
It is a great responsibility that we take on when we decide to become teachers.
We have a great deal of influence in the lives of the children that we associate with, and we need to realize the responsibility
and then do all that we can, to be the best that we can be. And so as I have thought about what makes a good teacher I thought
about all I have learned. What I know about teaching comes from several different places.
I know about teaching from being a student, from reading about and talking to teachers, and from my own experiences
in teaching. I will share those conclusions with you here.
From Being a Student
As I reflect over my experiences as a student, and think of all the good and bad teachers I have
had, I conclude that there are four important characteristics that good teachers have:
1. Good teachers are willing to listen; they
allow students to express ideas and understanding that may not be the same as the teachers.
2. Good teachers know the students and care
about them enough to help them improve, not necessarily to get an “A,” but to improve.
3. Good teachers know and love the subject they are teaching.
4. Good teachers hold high expectations for students and provide means for them
to meet the expectations.
My best teacher was my dad
(who was also a public school teacher). He always used questioning to help me
figure out what I knew and understood, and why I knew it or understood it. He
never told me I should think a certain way, only that I should make a reflective and informed decision.
Another example of a great
teacher was my Jr. High P.E. teacher, Ms. Lopez. I was an overweight, out of
shape student. She expected us all to meet the national standards for physical
fitness by the end of the year. I was pretty good at whining about how hard it
was, and telling her that it was impossible for me to accomplish the goal. She
would just smile at me and then stick to her guns about what was required. She
didn’t just sit on the sidelines; she ran with us, played with us and encouraged us.
I never met the top standards in the two years that I had her, but I improved more than I ever thought was possible
and I still enjoy physical fitness.
From Reading of Teachers
The book Why We Teach by Sonia Nieto is full of essays written by teachers and why they teach. After having read this book I conclude that:
1. Good teachers continually learn with, and for their students.
2. Good teachers know their students, their likes, dislikes, interests,
and passions.
3. Good teachers laugh and have a good sense of humor.
Mary Cowhey wrote in her essay Shall we begin with the Children (Neito 189-200), I teach because teaching is a job where you get paid to learn
with other people. How cool is that?” (Neito, 192).
Elaine Stinson wrote in her essay Teaching Outside the Lines
(Nieto, 105-114), “It is by building deep relationships with my children that I come to understand who they are,
what they are interested in, what they know and are passionate about, what they are curious about, and their individual ways
of learning. It seems natural to me that children learn best when they are appreciated as whole and unique individuals”
(Neito, 107). And also, “I hve found that my students are more open to
understanding these ideas when I have gult strong relationships with them and when a sense of community ins in place.”
(Neito, 109)
Ayla Gavins spoke in her
essay Being on a Moving Train (Nieto, 97-104), of the necessity of having a sense
of humor and being willing to laugh. “I love to laugh. To be a good teacher, you have to have a good sense of humor.” (Nieto, 100) Laughing builds community,
relieves stress, and makes even the worst days bearable. My sister teaches math
at a high school and has told me several times how important it is to be able to laugh with students and have fun. For many students math is a very stressful subject and if they can laugh and joke and have fun it creates
an atmosphere for learning.
From My Own Experiences
I taught a high school religion
class for five years, I home schooled my four children for eight years, I worked twelve years in cub scouts, have been a substitute
teacher for tour years, and have numerous hours in practicum work. Through these
experiences I have concluded that
1. Good
teachers always have an objective, with high expectations.
2. Good teachers teach across the curriculum,
making connections in all areas of life.
3. Good teachers know that little boys and
sometimes girls need to move around, not just sit at a desk all day.
When I began homeschooling my children I bought a program of workbooks that the children would work
themselves through. It did not take long for me to figure out that that would
not work with my children. My daughter did not mind too much but my boys refused. We figured out that we would learn so much more and be happier in learning when we
did all of the learning together combining all of the subjects and making connections across the curriculum.
I learned quickly while teaching seminary that I had better know what it was that I wanted to accomplish. I had to have and objective for the lesson or we did not learn. Also, if I was not prepared and demonstrated where we were going the students checked out. There had to be a goal.
Cub scouts taught me that you can learn by sitting on the floor, running around the gym, or sitting
under a tree. You do not have to be in a chair, at a desk, sitting up straight.
Conclusion
There are of course many other things that make a good teacher, but I feel that if I keep these ten
characteristics in mind while I am teaching, then I will be an affective teacher realizing my responsibility to the children
of whom I will be entrusted.
Sources
Nieto, S. (1994). Why we teach.
