Genius Freak

Putting the finishing touches on my first new post in too long.  In the meantime, I am going to turn to some people who have a clear and personal knowledge of the things that effective teachers do to facilitate meaningful learning. I have been crowdsourcing feedback from long-ago former students in response questions about the traits of good teachers. Today I am going to ask current students to think back through their education history and the best teachers they have had - not the coolest teacher, or the nicest teacher, or the easiest teacher, but the ones who made the classroom a place for meaningful learning. No names, please, just descriptions of what it is the best teachers do.

Echoes & Reflections (@EchoesReflect) tweeted at 4:00 PM on Thu, Jan 03, 2013: NJ Educators submit your #Holocaust Lesson @Chhange_BCC Outstanding Lesson Award! Cash prize for you and your school! (https://twitter.com/EchoesReflect/status/286940230714531841) Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download

 37 -19 Borrow 1, make the 7 into 17, then subtract 9.  Borrowing and carrying. Simple math right?  We've all done it. In math class, or balancing our checkbooks (pre-online banking).  But what does it mean to borrow 1? A friend of mine, not a math lover, is preparing to become an elementary school teacher. She's currently taking a methods class in teaching math in elementary school, and  she had an epiphany.  About borrowing and carrying. "Borrowing and carrying don't explain the importance of place value.  We always just borrowed and carried because that is what we were told. We never knew why."

Perfect Teacher: Model A1 The perfect teacher knows what he/she is teaching.  She understands what students might have trouble with and knows how to help them out.  Not only does he know oodles about the subject, but he has knowledge of things outside of and surrounding it.  She is able to help kids understand the subject and break it down into easier concepts. He/she doesn't alienate any students or make them feel like they are better or worse than anyone else.  A good teacher always respects his/her students, yet still knows how to have fun.  -Steve N. I've seen a commercial recently on television; I'm not exactly sure what it is advertising, but it hits on something current research shows, and all of these crowdsourced students understand intuitively.  One important factor that contributes to student achievement is the teacher's level of education in their subject.

For the student who wrote this, the balance of caring and content is clearly important to good teaching.  For her, and for most students, a "good teacher" is adept at establishing a relationship based on mutual respect and making the subject interesting and accessible to all students. A Good Teacher:  A good teacher is balanced in kindness and strictness.  A good teacher is polite yet stern in a subtle way.  The pupils should respect the teacher as a person.  Some teachers are rude to their students, who give them problems in return. A good teacher makes learning fun and delivers it in an exciting way.  An average teacher is boring and relays information like a robot - assigning homework and naming the day of a quiz. I feel teachers should teach with several different approaches so as to interest all the different learning patterns teens have. Humor is key - there should be lightness yet formality to a class. -Tamara Relationships, relevance and...

This installment of crowdsourcing was contributed by a student who was a high school junior at the time, and who is now putting his ideas about good teaching to use in his own classroom where he teaches social studies to middle school students. A Good Teacher... is not too serious.  We're still kids; not adults. is willing to run with something, not sticking to the plan word for word. is caring and understanding. is a friend, but not.  A good teacher can listen and talk like you're equal, but can still command discipline and respect. knows the subject inside and out. is also well-versed in other subjects, especially topics similar to their subject. does lots of open discussion. had good public speaking ability. is willing to go above and beyond the call of duty.

It used to be that our graduating seniors were given the opportunity at the commencement ceremony,  in conjunction with the reading of their names as they received diplomas, to offer 10 additional words.  They could use them for parting words, celebrations, expressions of gratitude for parents, friends, and others who stood by them along their way.  Right around that time, I changed classrooms, from 1 to 235.  And as we made 235 our home, it seemed to take on a life of its own. Some students in one graduating class opted to use at least some of their 10 words to give a shout out to 235.  Somehow, I wasn't sure how, 235 came to stand for more than just a room number.  One of the assistant principals at the time, on seeing so many references to 235 on seniors’ graduation cards asked, “What is this 235? Some sort of gang affiliation?” No, not a gang. But an affiliation - yes.   Etymologically that word comes from roots that mean to adopt a son.  ...