What Makes a Good Teacher?
Published On: 11-14-2011 07:16pm
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Category: Word of the Wise
{a note about Joshua: He is a briliant young man who designs robotics and machanical engineering that are far above his age level. He understands physics and geometrics that are at a Senior in High School level. Last year he was in advanced math and Algebra getting A's and this year(9th grade) he is getting an F in Geometry.}
Students learn at different paces and with different points of view. Many learn according to their personalities. Teaching styles vary from teacher to teacher, but the good ones teach with many teaching styles to accomodate and communicate with all of their students. Like adjusting ones personality to meet the other person they are conversing with.
Not all students take gruff criticism well. Some need encouragement along with constructive criticism. Some like a "swift kick in the pants" as my best friend would put it, while others need kudos and soft prodding. Some students feel inadequate most of the time and need to know they are not alone. Still, others have been burned by comments so much that they hand it right back to you.
Being a good teacher often means learning how the student relates to people in general. Soft spoken students tend to blend with other soft spoken students better than the loud and outgoing students. The same is true with teachers. Ever heard the phrase "Birds of a feather, flock together"?
My son taught me to relate to different people in their way. Not just one way for everyone. My Father was a harsh man, marine corp sergant to be exact. He always said I didn't have a thick enough skin. Many people during my lifetime told me I was to sensitive. In some ways, they were right, but I learned a hard lesson of not letting other folks bother me by rolling with the punches. A life changing event happened that created that thick skin. We all tend to experience that painful event to develope it. But after the healing process takes place, that callous forms. The unfortunate part for some people, is that some don't ever return from that painful place. They become embittered. This can make them a source of life, or a source of pain for different personalities they interact with.
To be a good teacher, you don't have to be smart, experienced or even educated. Sometimes, all it means is for the teacher, to be teachable.
"Mentoring is about one person helping another to achieve something. More specifically, something that is important to them. It is about giving help and support in a non-threatening way, in a manner that the recipient will appreciate and value and that will empower them to move forward with confidence towards what they want to achieve. Mentoring is also concerned with creating an informal environment in which one person can feel encouraged to discuss their needs and circumstances openly and in confidence with another person who is in a position to be of positive help to them."
references:
"The Role of a Mentor" in How To Guides for Business
"The Man Who Lied to His Laptop", Nass, Clifford, Chapter 2 "Personality", Published September 2, 2010 Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
