So I was just randomly talking in class today with some friends and one thought came into my head, what do I see to be a perfect teacher?
This is a hard question that I cannot find myself to answer. There are some people who believe that they would prefer not to have a teacher at all and those who think we can't learn without them. Well these are both opposite sides of the extreme.
So tell me, what would you do to create the perfect teacher? Would you clone someone from the past? or would you make a Frankenstein teacher picking and choosing from individual peoples traits and thoughts on teaching?!
First step - stop calling them teachers. The word implies we have the wisdom to impart, which was appropriate. I think we should be called Learning Guides, or Learning Mentors. These suggest a shared responsibility in the learning process. In the world of a flying trapeze artist, the student is the "flyer", those who soar and twist and flip through the air. The teacher is the "catcher" the strong armed security to catch and redirect the flyer to greater heights or safer plateaus.
ReplyDeleteThere is no such thing as a perfect teacher. Teachers are, in fact, human. However, a good teacher is flexible and can reach a large majority of learning styles. Not all students are the same, though, so what works for them are not the same. One teacher may be very good at teaching one type of students, while another is good at teaching another type of student. All teachers have strengths and weaknesses, so no one is perfect. Above all, though, a good teacher needs to have passion, compassion, and the willingness to go above and beyond to do what it takes to reach all the students.
ReplyDeleteAbove all, though, a good teacher needs to have passion, compassion, and the willingness to go above and beyond to do what it takes to reach all the students. - bingo @Amy
ReplyDeleteWe also have to create a system that fosters and cultivates these qualities. The drop out rate between 3 and 7 year teachers is alarming. That passion, compassion and willingness is being extinguished too quickly.
Great posts BladdaddieTeach
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