What Makes Great Teaching?
There are many things I'd like to say that make great teaching. Teachers play a major role in the lives of their students and sometimes they may forget that. Growing up I had different types of teachers that I took many lessons from, but not just school-wise but life-wise as well. Some inspired me, while others made me genuinely question if this whole school thing was for me. Luckily I kept going and as I got older, I found myself taking a lot more from them than I thought I ever would. My past teachers really helped pave a way for me into knowing what I want to be and knowing that I also had some I can still turn to for anything no matter how long it's been since I've last seen them. I was inspired by any of them and found characteristics from them that I think make great teaching.
Providing an environment for students where they are excited to learn and also feel safe are the two main things I would say make great teaching. Throughout this course, I was able to learn so much about the education field than I thought I knew. Teachers are amazing people. Being willing to make a connection with your students and adapt to their different styles of learning is something that is very important in teaching as well. I like to look at it from a 50/50 perspective. We need to meet our students halfway in order for them to meet us halfway and we together can get to that 100. Giving each of them equal opportunities and words of encouragement can help take them further than we may think. The importance of this is that we have to be willing to do it. Some days are clearly going to be a lot more challenging than others, but it is a journey that we must take together and in the end, we can get to see the outcome which made all the negatives and positives worth it.
Diaynara, I agree teachers in my past have also inspired me to end up in this career field. Teachers are greatly underestimated for the things they do in order to make their students happy and successful. Leaving a long lasting impression on students is something that I feel makes great teaching. We want to teach to motivate and educate. If students realize that their teachers are willing to go above and beyond for them, then they will want to do better. I have seen students turn their whole behavior around when they were able to trust their teachers and that is a great outcome of successful teaching. Teachers spend most of their time with children that are not their own but still treat them like they are and show them the concepts of life. I also believe that providing an equitable education is one of the top aspects of great teaching because the students begin to show appreciation and are able to engage with the lesson when they feel the most included.
ReplyDeleteHey Reanna! It is truly amazing to see how one little spark can set off that students drive and motivation to keep taking themselves further and it really does come from us. Providing equitable education for them is something that is a MUST and i feel like a lot of people need to keep that in mind. Including everyone as a whole will only bring everyone so much further.
DeleteHey Diaynara! You did a really great job and your blog reminds me of the HLP 10 which is Building respectful relationships with students. This is so important because it lays a solid foundation for a classroom if done right. This starts with the teacher as they will set the tone for the classroom and the students will look to them as to how the classroom is run and how the interactions will go. The connection that the teachers have with the students are so important. If the students are able to trust the teacher then they make look at the information being presented as worth their time. I think that students struggle with what they deem is important and worth their time and so if they can establish a relationship with the teacher then they can trust that the teacher will help them in their academic career rather than waste their time.
ReplyDelete-Kenzie Jones
Thank you Kenzie! I was actually very inspired by HLP#10 while writing this. I could not agree with you any more. It really does help lay out a solid foundation and continues to add more desired progression.
DeleteHi Diaynara, I loved your blog post. I definitely agree with you when you said how teachers play a huge role in the lives of their students. I also had many teachers that I took many life lessons from, not just all about school lessons. My pas teachers have also shaped who I am today and what made me choose the teaching profession. Teachers are under appreciated, its a difficult profession due to society having a negative impact on teaching and how they don't do anything for the world. Teachers are with their students on a daily basis, however they aren't their own children they still treat them as they are and still want the best for them to be successful in life. I agree with you when you said to give them equal opportunities and words of encouragement that may help them further.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bri! Im glad you got to have such amazing teachers that inspired you to go to the point of wanting to follow in their path. Today's society can be super tricky with this whole teaching role but I really do believe we have a lot of power to end these stereotypes and make our future students better than they have ever been!
Delete