At school, students sit in a classroom for 6 hours a day, every day for a school year. How fast or slow those hours go past has something to do with how interesting the subject is, but it also seems to depend on the teacher.
According to this freshman staff writer and 9 year veteran student, here is what makes a good teacher. Good teachers listen to what students have to say and make them feel heard. They don’t just get them in trouble right away–instead, they take time to understand what’s going on.
In addition, good teachers explain things well in class to all students, including those who don’t understand. Just telling kids to “try it” doesn’t make it so they get it.
Good teachers relate to students, and have an understanding of what they are going through. Teachers that are respectful get the students’ respect. Respect is earned, not given. As sophomore Sadie Williams said, good teachers “have a good attitude towards students.”
Next, a teacher that cares about their students and their feelings gets students to respect them more as they care about what their students say instead of just blowing their feelings, ideas, and opinions off and not listening. Good teachers have real conversations with their students instead of saying something and just walking away. In one study from the University of Karachi, Dr. Zaeema Asrar found that healthy communication between teachers and students can encourage the students to work hard, enhance their abilities, and overall create success in their education.
Good teachers have rules, but they know when to balance with the needs of the kids in their classrooms. Doing this helps them develop a strong relationship with their students by being warm, available, and kind. “Teachers should have boundaries,” said sophomore Kaylee O’Connell, but those boundaries should be worked out with the students.
Good teachers reach out to parents often, with both updates and concerns. They also work with administrators and other teachers to improve their own teaching as well as the schools they are teaching in.
Lastly, good teachers have patience and humor. Teachers with a good sense of humor make the classroom more interesting, more calming, and more understandable to the students. Patient teachers make students want to be in their classroom.
The school day will still be six hours, but teachers like this will make it fly by.
