What makes a teacher excellent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
You think a smile at the door is what makes a teacher excellent? Personally, I'd rather that my kids have a teacher that knows the material and how to teach it than be able to do a good Vanna White imitation.

Says someone who has no understanding of teaching. What the smile at the door does is help the kids form a relationship with the teacher where there's mutual respect. When a teacher has thisnieth their students the students will work harder for that teacher. Kids aren't dumb, they won't respect you if they see they get none in return. The teacher who takes the time to show the kids they care will get better results from their students every time.

What you may not understand is that MS and HS teachers often do not have time to stand by the classroom door and greet students 4-6 times a day when classes change. This does not mean they don't respect their students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You think a smile at the door is what makes a teacher excellent? Personally, I'd rather that my kids have a teacher that knows the material and how to teach it than be able to do a good Vanna White imitation.

Says someone who has no understanding of teaching. What the smile at the door does is help the kids form a relationship with the teacher where there's mutual respect. When a teacher has thisnieth their students the students will work harder for that teacher. Kids aren't dumb, they won't respect you if they see they get none in return. The teacher who takes the time to show the kids they care will get better results from their students every time.

What you may not understand is that MS and HS teachers often do not have time to stand by the classroom door and greet students 4-6 times a day when classes change. This does not mean they don't respect their students.

You may not understand is that for early elementary students a genuine smile and eye contact at the classroom's door set the basics for mutual respect

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You think a smile at the door is what makes a teacher excellent? Personally, I'd rather that my kids have a teacher that knows the material and how to teach it than be able to do a good Vanna White imitation.

Says someone who has no understanding of teaching. What the smile at the door does is help the kids form a relationship with the teacher where there's mutual respect. When a teacher has thisnieth their students the students will work harder for that teacher. Kids aren't dumb, they won't respect you if they see they get none in return. The teacher who takes the time to show the kids they care will get better results from their students every time.

Very well said

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
You think a smile at the door is what makes a teacher excellent? Personally, I'd rather that my kids have a teacher that knows the material and how to teach it than be able to do a good Vanna White imitation.

Says someone who has no understanding of teaching. What the smile at the door does is help the kids form a relationship with the teacher where there's mutual respect. When a teacher has thisnieth their students the students will work harder for that teacher. Kids aren't dumb, they won't respect you if they see they get none in return. The teacher who takes the time to show the kids they care will get better results from their students every time.



What you may not understand is that MS and HS teachers often do not have time to stand by the classroom door and greet students 4-6 times a day when classes change. This does not mean they don't respect their students.



You may not understand is that for early elementary students a genuine smile and eye contact at the classroom's door set the basics for mutual respect

You clearly do not understand that not all teachers are early elementary teachers. Stop acting like all teachers are the same, and that the standards for what makes a good teacher is identical for all grades.

[Anonymous]

At the end of the year, my kid learned what he was supposed to, and likes the material better than when he started the year.

Not every teacher is excellent for every kid, but certain characteristics will be shared by all excellent teachers.

Grades fairly, in a timely way.

Responds to emails.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At the end of the year, my kid learned what he was supposed to, and likes the material better than when he started the year.

Not every teacher is excellent for every kid, but certain characteristics will be shared by all excellent teachers.

Grades fairly, in a timely way.

Responds to emails.

And I mean emails from the student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You think a smile at the door is what makes a teacher excellent? Personally, I'd rather that my kids have a teacher that knows the material and how to teach it than be able to do a good Vanna White imitation.

Says someone who has no understanding of teaching. What the smile at the door does is help the kids form a relationship with the teacher where there's mutual respect. When a teacher has thisnieth their students the students will work harder for that teacher. Kids aren't dumb, they won't respect you if they see they get none in return. The teacher who takes the time to show the kids they care will get better results from their students every time.



What you may not understand is that MS and HS teachers often do not have time to stand by the classroom door and greet students 4-6 times a day when classes change. This does not mean they don't respect their students.



You may not understand is that for early elementary students a genuine smile and eye contact at the classroom's door set the basics for mutual respect

You clearly do not understand that not all teachers are early elementary teachers. Stop acting like all teachers are the same, and that the standards for what makes a good teacher is identical for all grades.

Shake your head and put your brain to work with your heart. For early elementary grades students it is very important having a teacher (I AM NOT SAYING A MS or HS TEACHER, UNDERSTAND NOW?) who listens, respects, makes eye contact, teaches every day without using videos, welcomes them at the door, has a contagious enthusiasm for learning, doesn't humiliate kids and loose her temper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Finding an excellent teacher is like looking for a sewing needle at the beach.

True, especially if the principal is a micromanager asking for all kinds of documentation for everything and anything.
There are also excellent teachers who cannot teach because others in team plan and pass out paperwork.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You think a smile at the door is what makes a teacher excellent? Personally, I'd rather that my kids have a teacher that knows the material and how to teach it than be able to do a good Vanna White imitation.

Says someone who has no understanding of teaching. What the smile at the door does is help the kids form a relationship with the teacher where there's mutual respect. When a teacher has thisnieth their students the students will work harder for that teacher. Kids aren't dumb, they won't respect you if they see they get none in return. The teacher who takes the time to show the kids they care will get better results from their students every time.

What you may not understand is that MS and HS teachers often do not have time to stand by the classroom door and greet students 4-6 times a day when classes change. This does not mean they don't respect their students.

I'm a high school teacher so you're right, help me understand the limits on my time if you don't mind.

[Anonymous]

By high school most students understand that their teacher is human. They also understand that their own effort in a class affects their future. Yes, teachers should be respectful and enthusiastic about the children and their teaching. I just hope that by this time we expect more from teachers. College professors are not judged by how enthusiastic they are and how often they smile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:By high school most students understand that their teacher is human. They also understand that their own effort in a class affects their future. Yes, teachers should be respectful and enthusiastic about the children and their teaching. I just hope that by this time we expect more from teachers. College professors are not judged by how enthusiastic they are and how often they smile.

It's not about
How we are judged. It's about how the kids see us. If they see us as people who give a crap about them, they will be more likely to rise to our expectations. If we're touchy battle axes it doesn't mater how smart we are and what we know- they won't be interested in learning it from us. There's a huge difference in who is most qualified to teach and whonis most effective. The ideal teacher is both but you can't neglect one hemisphere wholly and be a even halfway good teacher.

[Anonymous]

Agree. A lot of people commented that all they cared about was having a teacher who cared about the students. I think that's only half the picture as you stated.

[Anonymous]

You clearly do not understand that not all teachers are early elementary teachers. Stop acting like all teachers are the same, and that the standards for what makes a good teacher is identical for all grades.


Shake your head and put your brain to work with your heart. For early elementary grades students it is very important having a teacher (I AM NOT SAYING A MS or HS TEACHER, UNDERSTAND NOW?) who listens, respects, makes eye contact, teaches every day without using videos, welcomes them at the door, has a contagious enthusiasm for learning, doesn't humiliate kids and loose her temper.

Reading comprehension is your friend. The OP didn't say "what makes an early elementary teacher excellent"? So don't yell if people give answers that reference other types of teachers.