What Makes a Great Teacher?

"It says that 'Under the law, elementary school teachers must have a bachelor's degree and pass a rigorous test in core curriculum areas and pass a test or by completing an academic major'. I've known so many new teachers who have completed all the requirement to be called 'highly qualified teachers', and one is my daughte's teacher, but let me tell you this, go to her class, she can't even manage the class, children are all around, disorganize and obviously is not exhibiting expertise in the subjects she's teaching. While my baby's kinder teachers until 1st grade who were so good, love our kids, have dedication were removed just for the reason that'they are not highly qualified' according to the school because they haven't compleated yet the requirements to get a clear credential???? For me as a parent'HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHER' does not always follow with how many units in education teachers got! But rather they should have those qualities that makes a Great Teacher like it was mention: It demands broad knowledge of subject matter, curriculum and standards; enthusiasm, a caring attitude and a love of learning; knowledge of discipline and classroom management techniques; and a desire to make a difference in the lives of young people. Why can't they also consider the years of experience the teacher had in the qualification of a 'HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHER' and not only concentrating on the number of units they got or the number of tests they pass! Experience is a BIG BIG plus to be a good, confident, knowlegeable teacher not only in our children's learning but also the effectiveness on how they manage the class. "

"Parents need to remember that any given teacher is only a moment in their child’s life. You, the parent, are the strong hold that is steady for your child and their lifelong teacher."

"how can......for the teacher if there are not complete equipments in the school"

"wow...I don't see how party affiliation has anything to do with the subject. Pres. Obama blasted teachers in his speach even more than the so-called hatemongers on the right. The fact is that teachers and their students are being blamed for our woes as a nation. Most Americans are intellectually lazy. Why should our kids be any different? I go through hell trying to teach my son anything. Obstinate wretch. How about 30 in a classroom?"

"Great teachers are all around us. The problem is that great teachers have the potential to be great in what ever field they choose to work in. Therefore, most don't stay in education very long. Education is extremly low paying considering the amount of education we expect them to have, the amount of continuing education we expect them to keep up with on their own time and with the little bit of money they have. Throw in all of the testing, large number of children in each classroom, higher number of students with behavior/attitude/learning difference issues than every before, and parents who expect 'their' child to be the main center of attention for the teacher at any given moment. Teaching isn't worth the stress, low pay, and forced (expensive and time consuming) continuing education. Great teachers will be great in whatever field they chose to work in, they will leave education and go be 'great' someplace with less stress and more money. If we want great teachers, then we! need to compensate them and treat them like they are great, not the reason for all of our social woes. If you compare teachers to other highly educated professionals such as lawyer's, MBA's, and doctors within our society, you can see what our society values. We value money. People who make money for us, protect our money for us, or provide medical care for us are valued significantly more than those who are shaping the future and taking care of our children each and every day. Yes, Doctors and Lawyer's may need more education to start out in their fields, but by the time a teacher is 6 to 8 years into the field, she has most likey taken as many college classes as a lawyer or even a Doctor. Teachers are expected to continue taking college classes up until they retire. By the time a teacher retires I would expect that they have more time and money invested into their education than a lawyer or doctor ever would. Our society needs to start compensating teachers commensurate! with their level of education and the service they are provid! ing for society at large. We expect teachers to prepare the children of our society to come out of school and change the world into a better place. Our hopes and dreams for the futures of our children are placed in the hands of educators. Our society can't afford crappy second rate teachers that can't find work anywhere else. We need to pay great teachers great salaries, salaries that will encourage great people from other fields that teaching is a field worth working in, when we have a large enough pool of great teachers, we won't have to put up with all the bad teachers. Getting great teachers into classrooms is as simple as creating an environment that encourages more people to want to be teachers, with a larger selection of people wanting to be teachers, it will be easier to get rid of the ones who can't make the grade."

"Great information. Particulary for a new teacher such as myself. I will definitely use as I strive to become a better teacher."

"We in the US do a great job with instilling critical thinking. Unfortunately, especially with integrated classrooms, the best we can teach is lowest common denominator material. Whether you like him or not, is there another Bill Gates in our future? There probably is but I don't think we will see as many as we have in our heralded past. What challenge does a young man or woman have if they can't compete with the best in the schools until they start taking college prep courses? I'm not a teacher, but I talk from experience. I ran a group home for children for some time. My kids went into integrate classrooms and raised hell. They were an extreme distraction, no matter how many aids were there just for them, and took valuable class time from everyone else. Now there is no more special ed and no more honors classes."

"I'm not a teacher, but do you really think a teacher can send frequent feedback to parents, as well as maintain constant, individual contact with everyone? That's too time consuming for what we pay them. We should be real, folks. If they're doing a good job, we shouldn't burn them out with obsessive over-checking. We need to step back and let teachers teach, not micro-manage the parents as well as the kids. That's ridiculous."

"In order to be a good teacher we as teachers also need help from the parents. As a teacher I can only do so much, thats where the parents come in."

"As an aspiring teacher, I see and am told alot about what makes a good teacher. I think the one that has stood out to me is that a good teacher knows her students and their learning styles, and models her lessons based on different learning styles, not just the one she is most comfortable with. Also, I think that a good teacher engages her students, she involves them in class activities, uses hands on activities as a means of learning, and incorporates current technologies into the learning experience for her children. As an education major, I am currently being exposed to alot of technology that wasn't used even in the past 10-15 years while I was in school. The changes are amazing, and to watch the students I observe interact with and engage in the use of technology, it amazes me that we didn't come up with this before now. Also, I think communication between the parent and teacher alone isn't enough. I feel any communication to the parent from a teacher should also involve the child. The teacher and parent may only see it one way, where as the child may have a different view or reasoning of an action or behavior. "

"I have been a teacher for over 29 years. I have seen a lot of changes in the profession. Some of these changes have been good and some have been bad. There are a lot of new teachers that really want to do a great job. They get into the classroom and depending on where they teach they have a great year or they are thinking of leaving the profession. Why? Discipline, lack of interest on the part of the students, and parents who think their child can do no wrong. These three things just about kills classroom learning. Now add the high stakes test at the end of the year. What has happened is that there are so many standards that must be taught each year that the teacher has to move the curriculum at a pace that loses the child. What I mean is this, the teacher will teach and the students will do the practice page and some homework on that skill. Let's say adding fractions. Then it is subtracting fractions, adding unlike fractions, reducing, changing mixed numbers to improper fra! ctions.... the list goes on. My point is that after teaching this for for so many years I know that it takes at least three weeks for the students to begin to grasp the concepts. Now that is just grasp. There needs to be much practice and reteaching going on. That's more time but you can go on to decimals or something else and still hit the fractions ten or fifteen minutes each day giving small quizzes to know who has it and who doesn't. That's the way I teach or I should say use to teach. Teachers are forced to go on with new material and keep pushing and what is happening is that the students are not given a good foundation and they are forgetting. Then at the end to the school year a month is taken to reteach the school year for the test. It is not working. "

"I am an aspiring teacher and I have made a momentous observation: Education is a lot like our government. Parents (and non-parents) are pointing the finger at the educators and the educators are pointing the finger back at the parents. Education is a symbiotic (cooperative--for those of you don't like fancy words) relationship between the teacher and the parent. A teacher is only as good as the parent of the student being taught. At the same time, though, it is the teacher's responsibility to make sure they are doing all they can to provide all the tools neccessary for the student to learn. So it's a team effort of the teacher and the parent to ensure each student learns to the best of their ability. If non-parents want to point at the teachers and berate them, then I say go have a child and lets go back to the days of corporal punishment in schools and see how fast they change their tune. For the record, I haven't given up on teaching, I've found I'm in love with it! and will do everything I can to be the best teacher I can be."

"When I came from California to Tennessee I see why my mom left the South & loved the North. The people in the South with power have not progressed enough to let other people of color be in the process of change, but want to dictate how we should live our lives like theirs or we will not be accepted into their churches, schools or social functions. This sounds as though there is a power struggle within the South, but their will come a day that the Old South has got to change their ways for people of color or will perish by their own greed for the need of power. I came into the schools as a Substitute Teacher in Sumner County, TN. where there are teachers that are still playing movies in the High School arena like the children are in Elementary or Middle School. I feel that some parents & teachers do not want their kids to grow up & that's a sad commentary on parenting. I must admit the schools need a major overhauling by business people because that's where these students will be working. Their are so many different avenue's that we as a Nation need to address that how our schools should be ran. One is Racism, Classism, Gender and Religion. When you look at your fellow Student, parent or teacher remember that what blood we all shed is Red. Let's focus as a Nation on the same & learn from the difference's of each culture, but lets stop tearing people apart because they do not look like you or may not believe like you. The philosophy should be what One person can contribute to a piece of the Worlds Puzzle & make it a better place for all. As teacher's, parents, community leaders, entrepreneur's let's embrace the knowledge of all & not just a few who only think of how it can befit the few & not the whole nation of people. In closing if I can be of help to my fellow human being or children of today who will be come leaders of tommorrow be a better person then I have done my service to the World at large & that's what I call good teaching in any person's book. "

"I love teaching kids, because it's nice to know that you are the one who had the privilage to mold these young minds for the future ."

"Yes,teachers do play an important role in education.In fact,most teachers hope that their students are all excellent under the help of them.And they are enthusiastic when they teach at first ,gradually some of them may lose confidence because of students' attitude to study ,finally they put the hope in hardworking students and excellent students.As a result ,some students especially those who are ignored by teachers begin to rebel against study .Whose fault ?I don't think that it is teacher's mistaken.And how do we deal with this problem?Should we call for teachers to pay attention to all the students ?But that is not easy for them."

"Let me begin by saying the public school system works if the parents are involved in their childs educaton. My 2 daughters graduated from Maryland public schools and earned full scolarships to UMD and UMBC respectively, but it didn't happen without our active involvement and concern about our daughters education. We asked questions of them and their teachers. Why aren't they getting homework? Why are they getting C's or D's in algebra? We also made it a point of not having the TV on when they were doing their homework and rewarding good grades or providing encouragement if they didn't quite achieve the grade they wanted. I submit to you that if a parent does not value the benefits of an education why should their children? It starts at HOME! Get involved with your childrens lives. Instill godly values, dreams, discipline, and love. Parents must realize that our society is shaping and influencing our children in many negative ways. Rap music that disregards all forms of autho! rity and discipline leads the way in pulling our kids into the materialistic, narcissistic, and selfish ways of thinking and living. The results are evident..schools are graduating 50% or less of their students in any given year. I am making a career change into teaching because this is a crisis situation for my community and ultimately our nation. If I can help one child speak English correctly or read proficiently, I will have made a small contribution to someone's success. "

"'WHINNERS'. Hmm. In response to 10/26/2007. I think you, buddy, need to go back to school and learn to spell. Let's start a new program called No Republican Hatemonger Left Behind."

"Great teachers are caring, trustworthy, and have a wide variety of skills. They are able to engage all students into activities with many different visual and hands on aspects. A great teacher cares about his/her students and cares about where they go in life."

"I am so glad I found your website. I am having a tremendous amount of troubles with my children's school. This website is going to help me make suggestions that they have to excpet. I think teachers and administration get so wrapped up in the troubles that they have they forget that it might be easy to deal with kids troubles. The school district that I am in seem to be permantly suspending children because 'they don't have to deal with behavior'. I think in most cases the schools create the problems because they don't take perventative measures. I guess it seems like to much work. I am happy to be able to use this information to try to work with the school better for my children. Thank you. "

"Hello! I have a question for all you teachers. I know teachers spend a lot of time grading papers. Would teachers be willing to pay a work-at-home mom to grade papers for them, or would they rather (or maybe they HAVE TO?) do it themselves? I love and respect teachers - teachers rock!!"

"has not the no child left behind focused only on the quality of public teachers,and not the support that these professional need. Where is the help needed with parent and their intervention to understand no child left behind? Where is there involvement? There is much placed on the science of teaching and not the art, and tools needed to complete the task. According to this explanation. The law is just a patch to a hole in a outdated garmet where the whole garment needs to be re-issued."

"I'm a first year, Republican teacher. My main observation this year was that the student is a reflection of the parent. The parents of the students that I have problems with won't even return my phone calls. As far as NCLB, there is one major fact that is not mentioned. Children have to earn a specific score. Let's say that score is 200. If a child goes from 199 to 200 he or she is considered a success. However, if a child goes from 25-199 he is considered a failure. That score alone means that the teacher is 'bad' because the student pass. How is that an affective way to evaluate instruction? Our jobs are based on a minors 'choices'. They can't even choose a healthy lunch! "

"great source of information on teachers and schools. But how can we help raise money for teachers aide salery and teachers salery?"

"If these people are supposedly educated, why can't they spell and use proper sentence structure. I hope they are not teaching English!!"

"I can look at this two ways as a parent and as an educator. I agree that teachers should not complain about the pay etc. Because we all knew that this profession was on that is significantly underpaid. However, I think that a lot of the finger pointing at teachers when test scores are down is not fair. We should point at our politicians for not having control of our borders letting any and everybody enter the country who do not speak our language and who really could give a damn and we are supposed to teach them and ensure that they pass. I have worked in our public schools; but I will die before I allow my kids to attend them"

"Wow! Can you possibly spew anymore hate and disgust? All that is evident from your rant is that you are a hypocrite. If that is a republican's view of teachers, and suggestions that those who are like you should teach, one can only answer with God help us all! In reference to comment 10/26/2007. "

"I've read some of the comments noted, and it never cease to amaze me at how people want to lash out at teachers, and it's always parents. I am a parent of a 4th grader. If I didnt stay on him when he got home from school, he would play video/DS games all day or watch movies. Parents must take a proactive role in the development of their children. Teachers are NOT the masters of YOUR children. YOU ARE!!! You need to put up or shut up. Do you attend meetings, engage in school activities, check your child's book bag each and every day, call your child's teacher regularly for updates, or do you wait until the end of the year when little 'Johnny's' failing to contact the teacher. I know that teachers are underpaid and very unappreciated by many. I am not a teacher, but I do know this for sure, most teachers are loving people who truly care about the well-being of YOUR children and as a parent, you have the BURDEN and RESPONSIBILITY of preparing your child for this cold ! and ugly world that we live in. Make no bones about it, what you put in your child, is what you get out. If you are not in order as a parent, no for certain that the child will not be in order. Start off parents by teaching your children GOOD MANNERS, respect for human life, and for themselves and the job for teachers will be halfway done. But dont send your child to school and thinking that the 6-7 hours they are in school the teacher is SUPPOSE to be MOTHER?FATHER. Their not, they are just suppose to be good role models and encourage your child to do the right thing. Whatever that may be. Now take that to the bank."

"You people are ridiculous! WHINNERS can not develop WINNERS! With all the whining and complaining I have read here I am very concerned about what are you teaching in the classroom - consciously or not. You some kind of idiot of the likes I have rarely soon! We need more republican teachers. I would bet my house, my car and my job that the people out there doing all this whining are democrats. You know who you are. Hope it hits home and you take my words to reflect on your pitiful outlook. This page is supposed to be proactive! It si supposed to be positive – an opportunity to grow, not a forum to bitch and whine about your chosen profession. You chose to teach! I was hoping to find helpful information relevant to the topic, not a bunch of whiners with piss-poor attitudes. You make a great case for home schooling and an immediate overhaul of our educational system. Never mind my disgust over your sleazy, slimy, arrogant, gutter dwelling, pathetic, self absorbed attitudes I have had the misfortune to grimace through reading here. With all the self pity, self importance and self absorption presented here, it would be impossible for our kids not to see through your lack of care for getting results (teaching is the job) in your” profession”. This is not intended to take anything away from you proactive teachers out there, but I am amazed at the number of you that I would not remotely consider hiring as a babysitter! Maybe this calls for peer pressure – get these clowns out of the classroom! Waaah, waaah, waaah! Quit! Move on, get a job that people appreciate you at like being a realtor, a remodeler, a hair stylist or maybe do a good enough job so that you may feel good enough about your work to give yourself credit and learn how to take pride in the work you do. There are a lot of less thankless jobs in the world. Do you kiss your plumbers feet when your septic overflows and he fixes it or just complain? What makes you so special!???"

"Talk about the need for good teachers! I could spend a week on the comments section of this page correcting all the spelling and syntactical errors committed by the peanut gallery.... What teachers in the U.S. need is a new Fair Labor Standards Act and/or merit pay across the board in every state. Why should teachers have any impetus to be 'great' when they aren't recognized (read: compensated) for their tireless efforts- yet every other kind of state or municipal employee (police, firefighters, bus drivers, correctional officers, nurses, etc.) earns handsome overtime, and in MOST cases they don't take their work home with them. What a way to 'advocate for' and congratulate teachers, Ms. Rosenthal! By expecting the world from them while at the same time insulting them with your antagonistic stance? But America has always had an antagonistic relationship with its educators... As our middle class continues to evaporate and the income gap between the bottom and top rungs continues unabated, more and more of the problems that we find our society having to confront will fall squarely on the ones who have always been responsible (and more so now- I'm talking to you, non-parenting parents!) for shaping our society, teachers."

"All these recommendations are good, however, there is one HUGE ingredient imperative to the educational process, the parenting of the students. Especially at the primary level, 'highly qualified' parents are imperative to the academic success of their children. Students without the proper parenting are in big trouble. A child must be taught the importance of education, the need to apply themselves fully to the educational process. Students must understand from the get go the need to go to class, complete assignments, do their homework and study hard. Without parents who instill this understanding in their children, even the most qualified, best intentioned teachers fight an uphill battle. With this No Child Left Behind mandate, teachers are completely overwhelmed. Expectations are rediculously high. If anyone were to walk into today's average classroom, elementary, middle or high school, it would be immediately obvious that there is a severe lacking in the area of QUALIFIED parenting going on at home.! No Child Left Behind at school means no child left behind at home, and for the past decades, the deterioration of student performance is obvious, and common sense would tell you it's not the teacher's fault. A current 50%+ drop out rate is clear testament to this fact. If reality is to be part of this country's 'No Child...' motto, we must address the parenting issue. As it stands, the importance of a nurturing home environment is summarily being ignored. Until it is acknowledged, the rest of these recommendations are nothing more than completely unrealistic policy making conversation. Can anyone realistically believe current trends will change without a change in social consciousness? It's simply not going to happen, no matter how much responsibility is heaped on top of our already overwhelmed teachers, and before someone else recommends throwing more money at the issue of student underachievement, before even one more teacher, administrator or elected official is ! blamed, please consider the fact that cracking a book doesn't ! cost a p enny. "