Good teachers teach. They go over the curriculum and cover the skills that their kids need to learn in a logical, consistent, and friendly manner. At the end of the year, most of their students move forward knowing enough of what they need to know to be successful in the next grade.
GREAT teachers do all of this as well. But they also do more. Instead of just teaching their kids what they need to know to move on to the next grade, GREAT teachers manage to motivate their students to want to learn even more. They seem to have a special enthusiasm for learning and teaching that spreads to all those who enter their classroom doors. And they tend to know their subject matter so well that they can break it down and make it easy for others to learn and remember. What’s more, year after year, they somehow manage to reach ALL of their kids, not just the most eager and/or best prepared ones.
Wondering if you are a good teacher or a GREAT one? Below are ten questions to ask yourself to see where you stand. The more “yeses” you get, the more likely you are to be a GREAT teacher!
1. Do you have an enthusiasm for teaching and learning that you project to your students on a daily basis?
2. Do you inspire your kids do more and learn more throughout the day?
3. Do you actively praise your kids’ progress, helping them to see their gains on a daily basis, feel better about themselves, and look forward to learning even more?
4. Do you know the material you are teaching, and are you able to break it down and teach it in such a way that even your lowest kids can understand it and remember it?
5. Do you motivate your kids to continue learning outside of your classroom?
6. Do your kids go home talking about what they learned from you? Do they apply it to their lives?
7. Do you reach ALL of your students, not just the ones who are eager to learn and/or easy to teach?
8. Do you follow up with your students, tracking their progress and reteaching/reviewing as necessary?
9. Do you LOVE what you do and find your students love learning from you?
10. Do your students remember you after the year is over? Do you remember them?
The world needs more GREAT teachers. If you aren't a great teacher yet, keep working on becoming one. Great teachers change the world for the better, creating hope and possibility for all those lucky enough to cross their paths.
All the best and much success,
Katy Huller
GREAT teachers do all of this as well. But they also do more. Instead of just teaching their kids what they need to know to move on to the next grade, GREAT teachers manage to motivate their students to want to learn even more. They seem to have a special enthusiasm for learning and teaching that spreads to all those who enter their classroom doors. And they tend to know their subject matter so well that they can break it down and make it easy for others to learn and remember. What’s more, year after year, they somehow manage to reach ALL of their kids, not just the most eager and/or best prepared ones.
Wondering if you are a good teacher or a GREAT one? Below are ten questions to ask yourself to see where you stand. The more “yeses” you get, the more likely you are to be a GREAT teacher!
1. Do you have an enthusiasm for teaching and learning that you project to your students on a daily basis?
2. Do you inspire your kids do more and learn more throughout the day?
3. Do you actively praise your kids’ progress, helping them to see their gains on a daily basis, feel better about themselves, and look forward to learning even more?
4. Do you know the material you are teaching, and are you able to break it down and teach it in such a way that even your lowest kids can understand it and remember it?
5. Do you motivate your kids to continue learning outside of your classroom?
6. Do your kids go home talking about what they learned from you? Do they apply it to their lives?
7. Do you reach ALL of your students, not just the ones who are eager to learn and/or easy to teach?
8. Do you follow up with your students, tracking their progress and reteaching/reviewing as necessary?
9. Do you LOVE what you do and find your students love learning from you?
10. Do your students remember you after the year is over? Do you remember them?
The world needs more GREAT teachers. If you aren't a great teacher yet, keep working on becoming one. Great teachers change the world for the better, creating hope and possibility for all those lucky enough to cross their paths.
All the best and much success,
Katy Huller
Author of Kinders Can! READ and WRITE! (New, updated 2013 edition now available at www.KindersCanReadandWrite.com!)
RSS Feed
