The Key to Teaching

A Valuable Teacher Is a Learner Not an Instructor

The following quotes taken from Bell Hooks, Teaching to Transgress, best describes what I

want to bring to the classroom as a teacher:

“It is equally crucial that we learn to enter the classroom ‘whole’ and not as ‘disembodied’ spirits.”

“To the extent that professors bring this passion, which has to be fundamentally rooted in a love for ideas we are able to inspire, the classroom becomes a dynamic place where transformations in social relations are concretely actualized and the false dichotomy between the world outside and the inside world of the academy disappears.”

I think that the emphasis should be on the learner

and that learning comes from natural curiosity.

As well learning is an active process not a passive process. A teacher has to make real world situations relative to the curriculum.

This follows the theory of constructionist’s such as Piaget, Dewey and Bruner.

I learn best when I’m able to try it for myself, hands-on experimenting and through ‘show and repeat’

What Urban Students Have to Say About Good Teaching

Make sure students do their workControl the classroomAlways willing to HelpVary classroom routine

Explain assignments and content clearlyTake the time to get to know the students and their

circumstances

Characteristics of a Good Teacheractful-showing sensitivity and skill in dealing with others or

with difficult issuesncouraging-help with the development of students by showing

support, confidence and hopepproachable-friendly and easy to talk to

urious-eager to know and learn

armonious-forming a pleasing combination of things fficient-working productively with no waste of effort

espect-consideration for the feelings or rights of others

Why and when must a teacher be tactful? Issues dealing with achievement, race, religion, sex etc. Everyone must feel comfortable and included. Dealing with student, teachers, management, union and parents.

ScenarioHomework-watch the news and report on an issue. Student Y decides to report on the World Trade Center. Student X puts up his hand to ask a question. Why do Muslim people want to destroy the U.S.? Are all Muslim people bad?

•Teachers use your tactful skills

As I slave over the computer preparing this assignment I show my unfinished project to the teacher and a family member.

Looks like your on the right track, appears to be good. I’m back on path my confidence rises and I feel great about what I’m doing.

Encouragement can make a difference in the finished product. Not all students work off of support but I’m the type that needs a boost. Thus, provide encouragement to all students.

Approachable The most important quality is being approachable. Intimidation hinders the learning experience.

How does a teacher become approachable:

1. Be interested in the students and the criteria

2. Try to understand issues of concern

3. Smile and be happy

4. Relate to your students.

I want to learn about my

students requirements and limitations. If I can discover how each student learns

best I will have accomplished one goal for that year.

A good teacher knows about their students circumstances.

I want each year to be a new experience for myself and for my students by creating new and exciting ways to learn.

Harmonious Creating a workable and peaceful environment for student and teacher. A classroom must be free from racism, sexism, distraction and unreasonable

behaviour in order for students to learn. The term ‘teacher’s pet’ will never be used in my classroom. Every student is unique I would never place one student on top of another with

regards to special treatment. I believe this has underlying effects such as discouragement.

Efficient My grade eight teacher was disorganized, always behind in marking and never followed her outlines.

There is so much to cover and not a lot of time. In order for students to learn the teacher must be efficient

Children follow in the footsteps of their leader or people they admire. If you want your students to be organized and not waste time then as a teacher you have to do the same.

RespectIn order to gain respect from the classroom a teacher

must remember to have respect for the students.

Be firm but not overruling!

Share in the decision making a teacher should not be the supreme dictator of the classroom.

Allowing the students to participate in the teaching process will increase their involvement in the classroom. For example, I would like to implement an idea taken from my host teacher. If students have done the work properly they act as the teacher and helper for those students struggling to complete their assignment.

Power

Contribution

Affirmation

Purpose Challenge

Students need reassurance by their teacher that they are significant in the classroom as well as safe and accepted.

They want to feel that people listen and care. Their interests and perspectives need to be acknowledged and acted

upon.

•Students feel the need to contribute to their world.

•They want to know they made a difference by bringing a unique and valuable perspective.

•There feeling of connection is reinstated through their work and goals.

•I would like to implement an idea from my grade four classroom to allow my students to feel like they are contributing to their world.

•In our classroom, we sponsored a little girl from a foreign country. The students contribution involved writing letters, sending pictures and helping to provide monetary assistance at our convenience.

Let us recall that each student is a diverse individual.

Thus, in order to make learning compelling for students their work needs to compliment their ability.

This is not an easy task, but it is possible with efficient and tactful characteristics.

In order to feel powerful students need to believe that:

a. What they learn is useful

b. Their choices contribute to their success

c. The support for their journey exists in the classroom

My favorite word when I was young was WHY???

Did you know the word Why can be applied to anything

A mother’s favorite including my own: But why do I have to go to school?????

The reason children ask this question is because they do not know their purpose as a student.

In order for school to be significant to the child they must feel that there is a reason they are there.

As a good teacher I would ensure school reflects the students and the world which they must confront.

Remember When? You had to go to the bathroom and you weren’t

allowed. You had so much homework you couldn’t enjoy

being a kid. Your teacher wanted to be there less than you did. You just couldn’t understand! You got a C when you thought you deserved an A Going to school was worse than the dentist

•Education is the most important tool for a person to acquire. I have had many teachers throughout my life that fail to be enthusiastic and caring. Lack in appropriate knowledge in the subject being taught. Send out a vibe that they hate their job and sometimes even the kids. I agree there are difficult students in a classroom and sometimes people have a bad day-I’ve had many-But I do not believe that teachers who do not show interest in the students should be in the classroom. Students feed off the energy present in their life. Negative energy produces negative outcomes. I want to replace a negative energy and that is why I want to be a teacher.

Looking over time throughout elementary, highschool and even university I can remember my favorite teachers.

But what will always haunt me is the horrible class year.

The time I went home crying to my parents because my teacher was a big mean awful monster.

In my experience, a good teacher wants to be a good teacher

When I can save a classroom of students from hating school because of their teacher then I will have reached my first goal.

1. Develop the patience required for on-going chatter.2. Downplay my perfectionist attitude.3. Determine how to incorporate vast culture differences in order to

avoid discrimination. 4. Learn management techniques.

Modernity

Remain up to date:

•Technology is the future

Remain open-minded

•Continue to learn with my students.

•Visual learners= screen babies

•Remain CALM, COLLECTIVE and COOL

Take time to enjoy life minimize frustration