What Does a Great Teacher Look Like? Watch and Learn
OK, I make my living off words. But there are some things that words can never really capture. To accompany my story on What Makes a Great Teacher, the Atlantic has posted three videos of highly effective teachers, courtesy of Teach For America. These are teachers who are moving low-income American kids forward at breakneck speeds--something many of us have quietly concluded can’t be done.
Each of the three teachers has a different style, but they all are good at the six things that Teach for America has found make all the difference in the classroom. The story explains what those six things are. But the video brings it all to life.
My personal favorite is Justin Meli of Texas, above. I love this video, man. I mean, I made my husband watch this video late on a Friday night when I had no business making him think about education reform. But I just couldn’t help it. Check it out.
Jokefest said on January 19, 2010 at 9:33 pm
Amanda—I see a pattern. Your TFA propaganda piece in The Atlantic, like your Time story on Michele Rhee, should give you continued access to self-proclaimed ‘get-tough reformers’ so you can continue to write fluff pieces that trumpet their causes; such work may even get you an advance from the Gates Foundation to write a book advocating the privatization of public education. However, I would think that the notion that Teach for America teachers—in their first and second years as educators—are the models everyone should follow should raise some questions in the mind of a skeptical and serious journalist. But perhaps someone who simply accepted and promoted Michele Rhee’s claim that she moved all of her kids from the 10th to 90th percentile in reading and math in just two years of teaching—a claim that cannot be substantiated is not skeptical enough to report on education issues right now.
Good luck and please take the time to scrutinize the platitudes coming from people like Arne Duncan, Michele Rhee, Joel Klein, and Paul Vallas when writing about education reform in the future.
Accident Compensation said on July 22, 2010 at 10:57 am
Amanda, I would definitely have to agree with you. Justin Meli really knows a way around children. I think that the best way to get a kid’s attention is by making them feel comfortable around you and making them know that it can be fun while learning.
I think that operation SMART is really a good strategy in teaching. I really admire Justin for the effort that he made (in the video).
Medical Coding Certification said on July 23, 2010 at 11:29 am
There are a lot of ways to teach students, but Justin’s style is simply amazing, not only did the kids have fun but they also learned to interact and learn at the same time. It really good to let students have fun while learning because in that way, lessons would be easy to absorb.
youtube to Mp3 said on July 24, 2010 at 11:19 pm
What a challenge getting low income kids to complete high school. The patients these teachers must have is unreal.
Ilfracombe Hotels said on July 27, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Kids are really hard to teach, they can be restless and very annoying but with the right strategy and right approach, like what Justin is showing in this video, you could get their attention easily. In this way, they will listen attentively to the teacher.
Cheap Phones said on August 03, 2010 at 1:11 pm
A teacher must know how to communicate with kids and how be at ease with them. Patience is a virtue. We have different styles, ways and the like to teach kids, but the most important thing here is that, they should enjoy and have fun while learning.
Chrysalis School Montana said on August 04, 2010 at 1:50 am
I read the article “what makes a great teacher?” I found it truly awesome. The author has rightly pointed out that more than schools or curriculum teachers matter. It is immaterial whether you have the best school building or the best curriculum. What matters most is whether your school has got teachers who are really dedicated. I really enjoyed the video. In my view all the three teachers are equally good. Being a teacher this blog really made me proud.
Turf said on August 05, 2010 at 5:02 pm
I think the best asset in a school is the teacher, I agree with the above comment, it doesn’t matter how beautiful the building is or how complete the facilities are, if the teachers are not competent enough. It would be useless.
Wireless Microphone Rental said on August 11, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Justin, you are the man. You really have a gift with kids. I mean, getting their attention is easy but your way is better. I really like your strategy.
Australian Travel Visa said on August 11, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Its really hard to teach children at that age, because all that in their minds is to have fun. But learning can be fun if a teacher knows how to do it. Justin has what the children wants, learn and have fun at the same time, which makes it easy for them.
Shopping said on August 17, 2010 at 4:00 pm
A great teacher would usually look very approachable and very jolly. A teacher, especially to little children, must be very patient and very spontaneous to keep the children up and thinking. And most importantly, a good teacher never forgets that a kid needs “play” time to keep them energized.
Regcure said on August 17, 2010 at 7:03 pm
Anybody can be a teacher, but only few can be a teacher to kids. There are certain persons that do not have the charisma to attract kids to listen. Aside from that, a teacher must have the passion to teach kids.
car loan modification said on August 18, 2010 at 4:28 pm
I think its very difficult to be a great teacher.What matters most is whether your school has got teachers who are really dedicated.It is immaterial whether you have the best school building or the best curriculum. What matters most is whether your school has got teachers who are really dedicated.
Mary said on August 22, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Here, in Ukraine teachers have a little bit different point at this problem , just because the situation in economics is getting worse and worse and the number of low-income students is rising. They don’t have enough learning materials etc., so the problem of effective teachers is the urgent matter.
topsoil said on August 27, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Ukraine teachers have a little bit different point at this problem , just because the situation in economics is getting worse and worse and the number of low-income students is rising. They don’t have enough learning materials etc., so the problem of effective teachers is the urgent matter.
Driving Lessons Bradford said on August 27, 2010 at 5:10 pm
I think that its not only the teachers that should be competent enough, I think it is also important that schools have complete facilities. Because without this, there is no point whether a teacher is good at what he is doing or not. It should be equal, good teacher plus good facilities equals effective teachings.
Moorestown Florists said on August 30, 2010 at 3:17 pm
A great teacher doesn’t have to come from or graduated from prestigious schools, a teacher is said to be great if and only if, he has a connection with kids.
accutane lawsuits said on August 31, 2010 at 7:33 am
I think this is so good. Teachers are so important to a lot of kids. Most teachers are just amazing.