What Makes A Good Teacher? A Student’s Perspective
In high school I am involved in numerous extracurricular activities like Graduation Committee, Band and Clubs (Polynesian Club and 鈥淩ise Up鈥 a Christian interest group). I鈥檓 very involved in my Senior Class and participated in special events like Homecoming.
I am also in the Senior Project Class which has opened up many opportunities to share my thoughts about the importance of student voice.
At the last Windward town hall meeting I was a panelist for a discussion pertaining to the video they showed us called 鈥淭he American Teacher鈥. It was a one hour documentary about teachers in America and how they deal with their life plus teaching. After the movie screening, the panel had a chance to speak and answer questions that were asked previously before the movie on their perspectives on their thoughts of what a good teacher is.
- Why do good teachers and effective teaching matter?
Coming from a student鈥檚 perspective having good teachers and effective teaching matters the most out of anything else, for students. It鈥檚 not the great textbook, or the facilities though it helps, they鈥檙e not the most important.I believe that good students come from good teachers, and that teachers are one of the most influential people in a student鈥檚 life. They pave the road for students with every lesson, lecture and teaching. By having good teachers and effective teaching in the students lives it prepares them for life after high school, or the 鈥渞eal world鈥.. It matters because it makes a difference in students鈥 lives long after graduation.
- What is a good teaching and effective teaching?
A good teacher is basically one who has a love for their students. And not for the glamorous pay. Good teachers should care for every single student. If the teachers don鈥檛 care, then why should the students care? As a student, when I know the teacher has a genuine love for me, I begin to have a connection and a bond which makes me eager to go to school and come to class. When go I go to school and I know I鈥檓 going to my Period 2, I look forward to going to that class because the teacher are so loving and I know she cares for me. It must be hard to go to a class where you don鈥檛 feel the teacher cares .It matters to students when they feel loved and that someone cares about them, it will make them become a better person. Effective teaching will be the result of how big the impact that teacher makes in a student鈥檚 life which is crucial to what they will become: a doctor, a businessman, an engineer, a lawyer or even if they want to become a teacher themselves. Every teacher a student had will in their own way affect the student good or bad.
A good teacher doesn鈥檛 only ask the 鈥淲HY鈥 questions, they push you to ask WHY yourself. They 鈥減ush鈥 you to go farther鈥..not over the edge hut higher up the mountain.
- How do we nurture and ensure good teachers and effective teaching?
As a student, there are really not many ways to nurture teachers, except to thank them. Giving them thanks for giving us an education, I hope will make them feel that the hundreds and hundreds of grading papers, sleepless nights and tired mornings is worth it. To be there an hour early at school through the rough traffic is worthwhile if a teacher hears the thanks and gratitude from the students. It must be music to their ears. And as students we need to take the time to say thanks and that the teachers know they are producing great students. I think I should make more students aware of this.
About the author: Charity Adaro is a senior at James B. Castle High School. She attended Waiahole Elementary, King Intermediate and is now in her last year at Castle High.
