Sunday, May 29, 2016

The Importance of Teachers

Anita Woolfolk pretty much hits the nail on the head in her podcast about the the importance of teachers. Anita discusses that teachers are so much more than instructors. They are lifelines.

Anita explains how important it is for teachers to truly care about their students, stating “people need to belong and feel safe before they can focus on learning and knowledge." That is my favorite line from the podcast.

There are so many teachers who spend their whole time teaching to the state tests, and do not take the time to form relationships with their students. However, this has shown to hurt, rather than help, student performance. Students who believe that their teachers care about them are higher achievers and are more resilient. 
I LOVE that students were asked what makes a great teacher. Because at the end of the day, students are the ones in the classroom. Here is what they said:
Teachers show they care by:

  • Trying to make class interesting
  • making sure everyone understands the material
  • asking “what's wrong?" 
  • being fair & respectful
  • offering choices
  • showing interest in their students
  • trusting & respecting their students
  • caring about them as learners and as people

Here is a link to the podcast: The Importance of Teachers

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