Describe the ideal teacher

H

hypochondriac

Senior Member
Location
Australia
Everyone has a slightly different expectation of what constitutes a good teacher.
Knows their subject?
makes it interesting?
Has a passion for the subject?
A great people person?
funny?
entertaining?
strict?
easygoing?
shows an interest in the personal life of students? the whole person not just the academic side
 

passion for the subject. that's the one I think that is most important for me. because then I get and stay motivated. theres a Chinese aussie math teacher now who has become very popular here. He really gets kids motivated to do math. part of that is helping them overcome a phobia they might have of doing Math.
 
I had some good teachers, but one specifically comes to mind. I absolutely despise math, but he was a math teacher. Reason he was good was he explained everything til every student in the class understood it. Because of this approach, I went from a point or two above failing with previous math teachers to 88 and above. Mr. White took one of the most boring and horrible subjects ever created, and made it understandable and even interesting.
 
one teacher i had used to harangue us for not being motivated enough. we were a bunch of apathetic teenagers though. it was the medicine i needed. not sure about the others.
 
I remember being in a class where the teacher had lost control.
you feel unsafe and at the mercy of bullies. Its hell really. for students and teacher.
 
The ideal teacher is a person who can draw you into the subject so you lose track of time. It’s similar to when you’re reading a good book, the person knows the subject, is passionate about the subject and engages you in the excitement. I’ve only had one or two teachers with the true vocation. You know it when you see it and it’s not something that can be faked.
 
Lc jones said:
The ideal teacher is a person who can draw you into the subject so you lose track of time. It’s similar to when you’re reading a good book, the person knows the subject, is passionate about the subject and engages you in the excitement. I’ve only had one or two teachers with the true vocation. You know it when you see it and it’s not something that can be faked.
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suddenly time becomes too short instead of too long
 
I taught elementary school. I tried to be funny, sometimes a little goofy, and patient. Above all, patient. My kids knew I cared, I think, and that counted for a lot. I'm retired now. I miss the kids, but not the paperwork or the parents. LOL! I think I was a good, solid teacher, but not a great one. I kept politics out of the classroom.
 
CarolfromTX said:
I taught elementary school. I tried to be funny, sometimes a little goofy, and patient. Above all, patient. My kids knew I cared, I think, and that counted for a lot. I'm retired now. I miss the kids, but not the paperwork or the parents. LOL! I think I was a good, solid teacher, but not a great one. I kept politics out of the classroom.
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i taught same but only for about 10 years. Me trying to be funny with kids equalled disaster so i never did it. Needless to say i wasnt an ideal teacher. I didnt have enough self belief and i was only faking the interest in "kids culture".
 
When I started out as a junior secondary high school teacher my subject was general science. I had plenty of passion but not a lot of clue about how to actually teach science, or anything else for that matter. My training had been very deficient. More often or not when a student raised his/her hand the question was either "Can I please leave the room", or "Is this going to be on the exam paper". Occasionally they asked "What good will this be when I leave school". Dispiriting to be sure but I stuck it out and gradually learned my trade.

My enthusiasm for science and my developing skill in breaking it down into digestible bites produced a certain esprit de corps in my classes as well as good academic results but it was only when I understood that I wasn't actually teaching science or maths or computing that a began to mature as a teacher. I was being asked to teach young people, to meet them where they were and to bring them forward to their full potential. Only when I realised this did I truly became a teacher. The subject didn't matter. Whether it was chemistry, maths, drama or history the objectives are the same - to develop useful skills, problem solving techniques and good reasoning ability.

A good teacher must be equipped with a repertoire of techniques to be able to teach kids of every ability level from the gifted and talented to the slow and struggling. Success depends on the teacher understanding the needs of each student and providing experiences that meet those needs. Challenges must be appropriate for the student - sufficient to extend them but not so daunting as to overwhelm them. You must know when to allow them to struggle with the task and when to guide them to success. The aim is to encourage them to be life long learners.

It also helps if you actually like young people and have a well developed sense of humour.
 
As a retired college instructor, and regardless what students say,
they want an easy A
they want to put in little effort and time
let the class out early
be entertaining.

All students, young and old, especially if subject is not their major.
 
My ideal teacher was pretty 27 to 30 years old with dimples and and blonde hair, we had one and she taught English and her name was Ms. S to us, but everyone addressed her by her full given name when asking her a question and our reply was ''yes ma'am, no ma'am or thank you ma'am'' never a yal. All the other teachers were older 40 or so. When Ms. S called on you to answer a question in class she would allow you to pass which meant you did not know the answer and did not embarrass you in class. Then when the bell rang you were ask to stay and discuss the question then given homework to complete. The next day after lunch she graded your homework and you usually got a pat on the back, that English class was the only A on my report card.
 
Sassycakes said:
I went to Catholic school and was taught by Nuns,so I would call a good teacher someone who picked you up off the floor after they pulled you out of your desk and landed you on the floor. (Believe me that happened a lot of times )😄
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My mother attended Catholic School and told of having her hands smacked by Nuns with a ruler so hard she would cry.
 

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