A Good Teacher

A good teacher.......

     A good teacher to me is someone who is enthusiastic about class but at the same time structured enough to know when work needs to get done and when there is some more lenience with work. Good teachers are active and engaged in their classroom. They do not care to sit behind a desk and lecture but interact with their students so that each of them knows that they are an important part of the classroom. Good teachers are also able to balance the delicate line of structure and relaxation. Classrooms are not always about pen to paper activities but more ways to engage students in real-world relevance. These teachers know when is a good time to "play" and a good time to work, and can equally balance the two so there is harmony in the classroom.
     A good teacher is not just about being fluent in their subject of expertise, but making all their students feel like they have the capability of being experts in the subject. These teachers are able to make sure their classroom is motivated intrinsically and not always externally. If these teachers can foster that motivation from within for their students, then their job is more complete and easy to get information for learning across then a student who has to be motivated for external factors.



Old Week 2 T2P Statement:
If students feel comfortable and emotionally safe in the learning environment, then they are able to fully explore learning in all aspects they are interested in because they are able to feel completely supported and encouraged in this type of environment.
Students will not be comfortable to learn in any situation that is not safe for them, no matter what they are asked to do. When a student is in a learning environment that they do not feel comfortable with, they are contemplating the factors that are causing their safety needs to not be met, as Maslow described. This will diminish the students learning qualities quickly, but with a simple change as going to a school or classroom that they feel heard and safe in they can become a completely different student. When students are safe, it is easier to become happy and enthusiastic about things, which can ultimately lead to a more optimal learning experience for educator and student. Noddings believes that learning is accomplished for caring decision making, and if teachers can build a caring environment between their students and themselves to provide a means for optimal learning. Motivation is a key factor in helping these needs as well, as teachers we want to push our students to realize there is more then what is currently around them and that they can get to better places if desired. We, as educators, cannot make everything safe for these children, but allowing them the opportunity to explore leaning avenues in a safe environment at school is crucial for their development not only as a student but as a human being.


Edit: Whole-Person Optimal Learning- Done in Green