Crowdsourcing Good Teaching

I spend a lot of time thinking and reading and writing about what traits and practices make for good teaching.  One of the best sources for my own professional learning on the subject has always been the students I've shared my classroom with.  Feedback from students has helped me develop and hone my pedagogy.  

 Over the years I have collected a trove of student reflections and insights into what their best teachers do. I'm going to share some of them here.  Many of the reflections were written anonymously, but I know the students whose insights I post will be happy to contribute to this conversation.

To Be a Good Teacher (according to a student)

  • It's really important that you know your subject matter.  
  • You have to set high expectations for your students and help them reach those goals.
  • You have to have a sense of humor.
  • You have to be approachable.
  • Be respectful and people will return that respect.
  • Let the students know that you are available to help them.
  • You have to be well-rounded, not all about your subject.  Be open to different things and you can relate to students on some level.
  • If you relate to students then thy will listen to you more; they will learn to respect you and take in what you are saying, whether it is about the subject you teach or something else.  No matter what the importance might be, they will listen.
  • You have to have guidelines.  Set the rules from the beginning.
  • Have fun while you teach.  It is always better to learn in an environment you feel comfortable in.

Agreed.

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