Is the Great American Teacher Dead?--- September 14--- Week 02:

                                     "Is the Great American Teacher Dead?"

     I was recently back in my hometown for a quick visit and while diving around town reminiscing of who lived in what houses, we drove by a home that one of my substitute teachers lived in.  The memories I had of this woman were scary and mean.  No one wanted her to sub for the teachers.  While doing my writing she told me my words were to close together and I needed to put my thumb in between each word to have proper spacing.  I would not call her a great teacher but how she was teaching it is "dead."  I think our classrooms need to have the affective filter... a learning environment that helps the students feel safe and builds their confidence in learning a new language.  Encourage mistakes because that is how we can learn.

    The question of "Is the Great American Teacher Dead?" had me thinking of what are qualities of great teacher .  Heres' what I thought of.

• He/she is welcoming and easily approachable
• Has a love for teaching and the student
• Can see potential in each of the students
• Doesn't rush through a lesson just to get it over

and many more....

    In John J Ivers article Is the Great American Teacher Dead, he points out, that we as teachers need to help the students think deeply.  A great teacher helps the student open their mind and think deeper than they had before.  They ask good questions.  Maybe instead of my sub getting angry with me, she could have asked if I saw anything wrong with my writing, helped me see the problem then I could fix it.  

    I think what and how teachers are teaching is evolving and so we must take the time to learn and grow these new skills.

Leave a comment below what you think makes a "GREAT" teacher!