1/13/21; Week 02: Response to "Is the Great American Teacher Dead?"

After reading this article I have been reflecting on my own education, both from years ago and now my recent studies. I have also been pondering over my children's education. I have had several classes in my lifetime where the teachers droning on lulls me into a sleepy state. I am sure that they were full of knowledge and wanted to share it with me. Many were probably even passionate about their class's content. So, as I think about the classes where I have gotten the most out of them there are a few things that really stand out. For starters, the teachers desire is really for the students to learn. They care about their students and it shows. Feedback is given in a manner that demonstrates that the teacher only wants to help the student improve not take marks off of assignments. Recently, I have really begun to recognize that the teachers whose classes I really enjoyed, the lessons were more interactive. They were not necessarily interactive every day but it was not the same routine day in and day out. The teacher had us doing various activities to help us learn. The teacher had us learning from each other. The class was dynamic. We were eager to take on projects and excited to share our learnings. As I read this article and contemplated my education, I recognize that these are the qualities that make a great teacher. These are the qualities I need to accumulate. How do you measure whether or not your students are happily engaged in your lessons? After that, how do you determine that, as engaging as your lesson is that, it was effective?