What makes a great teacher great?

The video we watched in class is an interview to three teachers who have succeeded at what they do. They are there to talk about what makes a great teacher great, about the importance of good teaching in the development of children. Cheryl Jackson says research has shown that the quality of teachers is the dominant factor in a child’s success in school, meaning poor teaching is detrimental to the child’s learning. I have always thought that teachers are a role model for their students. Great teachers are the ones who have a tremendous element of care for the children, the ones who have big expectations for the students. Marry Kooy says that a teacher becomes great when he or she makes the first task to get to know the students deeply, what they like, what they want in life, where they are from, what they know, etc.  When a teacher shows he cares about his students, he creates a positive atmosphere in the classroom, which is something we learn in didactics and something I will practice every course I teach. Marry kooy calls this “The getting to know you session.”

There are two aspects of the teaching equation. First, the teacher has to know the subject areas very well. Though it is important, it is just a small part of what makes great teachers. And the second is the love teachers have toward the students. What really makes a great teacher is the passion he has, the sparkle of enthusiasm he brings to the class, the joy he brings to the students. In other words, rapport is pretty important.

According to Richard Gerber, teachers who have enough self-confidence to be themselves with the students are more effective. Richard helped a school become one of the top schools of that area. He says the quality of teaching was a very important factor. The quality of teaching made the difference. Being a great teacher is not an innate quality. Though some teachers have that passion for teaching since they were kids, being a great teacher can be learned. The love and the passion a teachers has inspires his students. It motivates them to learn.

Richard said that another factor that makes a great teacher is the positive atmosphere he creates. He says it is difficult to teach without this; plus, teachers have other pressures to deal. I know what I need to do now. I will never forget that being a long life learner is one key to be a great teacher.

Ricardo Vasquez.