“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher
demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” - William Ward
I wish to express my sincere appreciation to those parents who took the time to attend one of the parent-teacher conferences this week. It is always a privilege for teachers to celebrate the achievements of the students with parents. In conversation with parents this week, they have expressed their pleasure and appreciation for the great job our teachers do down at Dąbrowskiego.
It made me reflect on what makes a great teacher. Being a teacher in the 21st Century is a very
challenging task. It demands a broad knowledge of subject matter, curriculum and standards,
enthusiasm, a caring attitude and a love of learning; knowledge of positive discipline and classroom management techniques, having an ongoing desire to up skill with modern technology tools that are ever-changing and an intrinsic desire to make a difference in the lives of young people.
I am in in my twenty-third year of working in education and I have worked with some great
teachers during that time. When I think of the really great teachers they all have the following
attributes;
- A great teacher respects students. In a great teacher’s classroom, each student’s ideas and opinions are valued. Students feel safe to express their feelings and learn to respect and listen to others.
- A great teacher creates a sense of community and belonging in the classroom.
- A great teacher is warm, accessible, enthusiastic and caring, this person is approachable, not only to students, but to everyone in the school community.
- A great teacher sets high expectations for all students. This teacher realises that the expectations they have for their students greatly affect their achievement; they know that students generally give to teachers as much or as little as is expected of them.
- A great teacher has their own love of learning and inspires students with their passion for
education and for the subjects they teach. They attend regular professional training to stay up to date with changing educational practices and learn how to use the latest technological resources. They have no fears of learning new strategies or incorporating new technologies into their lessons.
I am sure you will agree with me that we have some exceptional teachers down at our early year’s centre who has invested much of their time, energy and passion into the lives of the children in their care. I am proud to lead such an amazing team and wish to commend these individuals for a job well done.