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Pride of Profession: Striving to Become a Great Teacher
By Ben Johnson
7/23/08
This is the second post in a two-part entry. Read part one.
In the first part of this entry, I discussed greatness in educators. One of the nice things about my current position is that I can go into the classroom and see this greatness all around:
- I saw a teacher treating her students like little adults, and those first graders responded accordingly by doing fourth-grade work and mastering parts of speech as if they were in high school.
- I witnessed a brand-new teacher vividly and effectively demonstrate the three states of matter by having the students be molecules and act out what the molecules are doing in the different states. Because of this, the second graders easily used the scientific method to establish the three states of matter in a hands-on experiment.
- I saw self-assured and responsible eighth-grade students catching the vision of how school can be a stepping-stone for college and careers in an AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) class. They learned the unspoken curriculum of how to overcome fear and doubt and how to effectively work with their teachers. Everything about this class empowered them to actually believe that through individual determination, they truly can advance.
(A regular, everyday English teacher, Mary Catherine Swanson, started AVID because she wanted to help her students be truly successful and find and believe in their greatness. In doing so, she demonstrated her own greatness. If you want to learn more about it, read Wall of Fame, by celebrated journalist Jonathan Freedman.)
In those wonderful visits to your world, I saw many other elements of greatness in both the students and the teachers. We should all believe that we have the best students in the world and that they are certainly capable of being great. It is their right and our responsibility to help them achieve it.
That brings me to the point of my post: How can we expect the students to aspire to be great if we are not doing the same? We all have a certain amount of greatness that we demonstrate frequently, but the biggest enemy of success (greatness) is an attitude of "That's good enough." In that spirit, I would like to inspire all of us to do some self-reflection.
I appreciate all that you do and especially the fact that you take the time to read my ramblings. If you can spare the time, I would like you to answer the following questions, at least to yourself. But I welcome you to share your responses with me in the comment section below so I can compile the answers and give a report next month. If you would like to respond but do not want your responses included in the report, just let me know.
Consider these questions:
- If I think of myself as at least a good teacher, what would I do differently in order to be a great teacher?
- What student outcomes do great teachers achieve that I don't achieve?
- What qualities does a great teacher possess?
- What sacrifices would I have to make to become a great teacher? What am I willing to give up to become great?
- What does a great teacher's classroom look like?
- What kind of relationships do great teachers strive to create with fellow teachers and administrators?
- What will be my first step toward greatness?
These are great questions to for you to discuss with a teacher aide or a partner teacher, or in your professional-learning communities and at grade-level meetings. Another book that has inspired these ramblings is Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap . . . and Others Don't, by Jim Collins. It is on my list of books to read soon.
Please respond to the questions I have posed above, and share your thoughts.
Poor graduation rates are the tip of the iceberg
Submitted by JM (not verified) on August 18, 2008 - 11:54.
We need more things like this in Detroit---look at this sobering article:
Last year I was working as VP of Admissions and Marketing at a proprietary college in Detroit. One of my admissions reps came to me and said that her mother wanted to ask me for help.
I responded that I didn’t know her mother, but that I would do whatever I could. She said, “My mom thinks that you can do anything, she lives in Florida but she wants you to help the students in Detroit because they can’t seem to graduate and they need help protecting their future.”
I’m keeping up my end of the bargain. Those early concerns of low graduation rates just seem to be the tip of the iceberg. And while the JM Show is poised with confidence to make a change----The state of the DPS are not so strong, as Rochelle Riley, the wonderful and talented writer for the Detroit Free Press points out in her August 14, 2008 article Detroit Public Schools -- RIP
Rise from the ashes indeed. The JM Show has filed its vendor paperwork (we are not charging the schools or students however) and we are anticipating being there hand in hand with the students and educators as class begins.
We are going to bring our support skills from proprietary colleges to the high school level, including recruitment and retention plans. Thank you Ms. Riley for this sobering article. It is clear that you are doing your part. The JM Show is now grabbing the paddles, and we hope to bring this thing back to life.
JM
www.thejmshow.com
Without training, they lacked knowledge,
Without knowledge, they lacked confidence,
Without confidence, they lacked victory
---Julius Caesar
Striving to become a great teacher
Submitted by Martine Beaubrun (not verified) on August 6, 2008 - 20:18.
Striving to become a great teacher I believe is our responsibility to our students. They deserve the best education. I was once a teacher that was satisfied with being just "okay" as long as I got my job duties completed. However, with time and teaching experience I have begun to feel a need to become better than I am in the classroom.
Great teachers are often effective communicators with creative minds. They are able to relate well with students and motivate them to learn. They adapt to different situations in the classroom and can teach their students using a variety of teaching techniques. They also manage their classrooms effortlessly.
My first steps towards becoming a great teacher will be obtaining my Masters degree in Education, joining professional organizations and reading as many educational literature as I can.
Of course these steps will take away from my free time, but that is a sacrifice I am willing to make in order to become a "great teacher" for my students.
Striving for greatness as a classroom teacher
Submitted by Carole Barr (not verified) on August 5, 2008 - 20:19.
In an age where many teachers are just trying to make it to retirement,it is encouraging to see those who are striving towards greatness. I am currently enrolled in a masters program. I have been a teacher for almost thirty years. (I took ten years off to raise my children.) Now after having been back for over ten years, I have decided to fulfill my goal of earning my masters. Because I was licensed so long ago I am not required to earn my masters but it is a matter of personal fulfillment. I am hoping to teach for at least another ten years and want to improve every one of those years. Thank you for your inspiration.
Improving My Teaching
Submitted by Caressa Byers (not verified) on August 6, 2008 - 16:55.
I think that a lot of teachers hinder themselves from being great. We are our own worst critics. I know that I can be hard on myself a lot of the time. Therefore, I know that I need to learn that I am allowed to make mistakes, but must learn from them. That is how I will continue to grow. I have to be willing to reflect and see what works and doesn't and change to make things better. Things can always be better and we shouldn't settle for the same old thing every year. What worked one year with one class most likely will not work the exact same way with the next one, since you have a whole new group of students. I also know that I need to make sure that I am seeking out advice from teachers with more experience. They have been in my shoes and will probably have some good things to share. I am working on improving myself more and more every year that I teach. I have not been teaching long and know that I have so much to learn. I do not want to ever stop learning and looking for new knowledge and information that will help me be a better teacher for my students.
Great teachers
Submitted by Brian Siegfried (not verified) on August 5, 2008 - 17:21.
To ask our students’ to strive for greatness, I believe we have to be asking ourselves the same question. How can we expect our students’ to achieve success, if we as teachers are content in carrying out the bare minimum to complete our jobs? To continue on my path towards being an expert teacher I have decided to continue my education by getting my master’s degree. I also keep a journal for self reflection and daily events and how I can improve upon lessons.
I would describe the expert teacher as someone who has had years of experience, but still recognizes the fact that they too do not have all the answers, and are still willing to seek help from their colleagues. The expert teacher has experienced many different situations regarding students, parents, and colleagues, and knows how to resolve most problems in a constructive manner. This type of teacher would also be able to establish meaningful relationships with their students’ and make them feel comfortable in their classroom. Furthermore, they would be able to identify what types of learners their students are, be it any of the 8 intelligences established by Gardner (1993). A teacher of this stature would also acknowledge their students’ ethnicities and encourage them to share their culture in the classroom. Lastly, I think this kind of teacher would recognize the importance of continued education for themselves and keep themselves current with the times.
To become a great teacher I believe I must be willing to sacrifice some of my free time towards planning. If your planning for the week’s events is done in a matter of minutes it will reflect in your lessons. I consider planning and organization to be a major factor in regards to how smooth your days will flow.
I think a great teacher’s classroom looks like an exciting place in which a child would want to come in and be a part of. It should be vibrant and lively and create a mood that is joyful and inspiring. To add upon this the room should change with the times whether it is done through seasons, holidays, or topic related projects. I believe it should also be decorated with students work so they know you take pride in what they do.
A great teacher should strive to create meaningful relationships with their fellow teachers and administrators. After all, these are the people that you are depending upon for answers when might be in search of one. I view my fellow teachers and administrators not only as friends but as an addition resource that I reference when I need help.
Lastly, my first step towards being a great teacher is realizing that you never have all the answers, and I should always be striving to improve upon myself. In asking my students to strive for excellence I too must ask the same of myself.
It was a pleasure reading your blog I will look forward to future postings.
References:
Gardner, Howard. Multiple Intelligences: The Theory in Practice. New York: Basic, 1993.
Helping our students achieve greatness
Submitted by Kacie (not verified) on August 4, 2008 - 11:44.
I first wanted to comment on your statement about it being our responsibility as teachers to help our students achieve greatness. You are absolutely right. That is the most important part of this profession. Aside from all of the paperwork and meetings, my number one job as an educator is to do whatever steps necessary to help my students achieve their highest potential. I expect the best from my students. Why shouldn't they expect the best from me? They should and I should give them nothing less. I don't accept the "that's good enough" attitude from my students. If I don't accept it from them, I certainly shouldn't accept it from myself. I have only been teaching for 3 years but in those 3 years I have already grown tremendously as an educator. I have seen things that work and don't work, things I want to add or change, and things I want to learn more about. I am by no means a great teacher yet. I am realizing the steps I need to take in order to get there. A great teacher realizes the importance of higher, lifelong learning. If I want to inspire my students to become life long learners, I need to be one myself. Great teachers make sacrifices. They sacrifice time, money, energy, sleep, along with many other factors. Great teachers do not make these sacrifices for themselves or their families, or for fame. They sacrifice for their students. In one of my courses, I had to write my philosophy of education. After a lot of time reflecting and thinking about why I chose this path, this path to become a great teacher, I realized. If I could touch one student's life, make a difference in one child's world, it would all be worth it.
Become a Great Teacher
Submitted by beth (not verified) on August 2, 2008 - 13:22.
I think that in order to become a great teacher I have to be willing to get out of my "box" and take more chances. Great teachers have their students full attention usually because they have made what ever it is they are teaching fun. Great teachers work closely with other teachers and administrators to gain insight on what they can be doing in their classroom to make it successful. I think that the sacrifices that teachers have to make are they have to give up some of their "free" time in order to plan interesting projects and to learn about new things.
Expert Teachers
Submitted by Ashley (not verified) on August 6, 2008 - 19:31.
Hi Beth. This is my first blogging experience and I really enjoyed reading what you had to say about becoming a great teacher. Right now I am working on my masters through Walden University and we have recently been doing a lot reading and discussion on novice to expert teachers. When I think I expert I think of great. I dont think we ever truely become "experts", but I do belive we can become a great teacher. One of the first things you mentioned was stepping outside of the box and I totally agree with you. To be a great teacher you have to try new things. So much is always changing and our classes are different each year. What worked one year may not work the next. We as teachers need to be willing to take on challenges and try new things. Our students all deserve the best and for that to happen we can't get stuck in our old ways. We have to make adjustments for our students beacuse they come first. You had also mentioned how important it is to collaborate. You are right! Collaboration is the key to success. We constantly need to be collaborating with collegues, students, parents, and administrators. By doing so we learn new things and get to share our ideas with others. We can learn so much from each other and it is important they you make the time to collaborate. At the school I am at now we have a weekly meeting with out grade level team called PLC (Professional Learning Community) and this time is so benificial. We get to talk about our students and their growth, plan upcoming lessons or events, look at assessments, etc. It is a very valuable time we get to spend with each other. Some other ideas that I would like to share about becoming a great teacher are that you need to know your students! It is your job to get to know each and every one of your students so that you can help make them as successful as possible. You need to know how they learn so that you can differentiate your instruction and meet their needs. The most important thing that I think you need in order to become a great teacher is the understanding that you are a life long learner along with your students. If you are ambitious about taking courses and attending professional development then that shows how committed you are to learning. Thank you Beth for your thoughts on a great teacher. Hope my ideas have helped add to your thoughts about a great teacher.
Ashley
Pasco, WA
Sacrifice
Submitted by Ben Johnson (author) (not verified) on August 3, 2008 - 08:05.
Beth:
Thank you for your comments. If we want to be great at anything, there is always sacrifice. You are correct. A teacher that has the passion, will not think twice about taking and making the time to do the extra things for student learning to occur. Collaboration and team work only just recently are becoming accepted as desired working conditions to provide high quality learning to students. Even still, there is a long way to go. Thanks for mentioning the fun word. It has to be fun for both the student and the teacher or we naturally will avoid it.
Ben Johnson
Natalia, TX
Questions
Submitted by Kristen Schoonover (not verified) on July 29, 2008 - 19:19.
These questions on the table are some that I have thought about recently as an elementary school teacher. I am currently taking my first class for my Master's degree and I would like to say I am doing it by choice. Unfortunately, I would be lying. I live in New York State where a Master's Degree is required. As I read the questions I was asking myself why I was content being a mediocre teaching with mediocre knowledge. This is not to say that I didn't learn anything in my undergrad, but why don't people choose to become more qualified for thier job whether they are required to or not. I believe that this relates back to what makes us "great teachers". To make myself a "great teacher" I could embrace every opportunity for professional development that comes my way. This includes my Master's classes. I should be using the skills and knowledge I am learning to better serve my school and students instead of doing it because it is required. When you talk about the achievements of students I don't think we can narrow it down to academic achievements. We also need to look at what kind of impact the teacher had on the child. A "great teacher" of mine recently attended my wedding. This wasn't necessarily because I scored high on tests. This teacher had an impact on my life that in my mind made her a "great teacher". These questions bring out a fear in me that I will never achieve the status as "great teacher". I would do whatever I could to make a difference in my student's lives. These questions should be pondered by all teaching professionals. If we continue to accept mediocrity how can we expect anything more from our students.
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