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Johnson discusses the seven principles of master teachers that were found in the book Never Work Harder than Your Student, by Robyn Jackson. He disagrees with a few of the principles, but specifically takes issue with the principle of never working harder than your student. He believes that master teachers should be working harder than their students and should never become lackadaisical in the classroom; otherwise, the students’ education will be negatively impacted.
I could not agree more with Johnson. I do not believe that a quality master teacher means that students are working harder than the teacher. I, like the majority of my professional colleagues, work extremely hard in the classroom and outside of the classroom to ensure that my students receive the best education possible. If I give into the paradigm that I should not be working as hard as my students, that means that I will give up professional development, outside readings, talking to fellow teachers about education, going to events, planning better lessons, incorporating technology into the classroom and so on.Further, he goes on a little tangent about teachers showing movies in the classroom, particularly on the day before a vacation. I cannot stand it when teachers show videos just for fluff. I take serious issues with this as it is a major waste of student educational time and tax payers’ dollars. Finding Nemo has nothing to do with math or science. Sorry. It doesn’t. Students have become brainwashed into thinking that the day before vacation equals no learning day. This paradigm must be eliminated. Every day is meant for a learning day.
Johnson concludes by asking his readers what qualities we believe constitute a master teacher. I will end with the following list:1. Always show students that you care about their educational growth.
2. Continue to always grow: read, travel, expand your horizons, implement technology.
3. Never give up on your students, and teach them to never give up on themselves.
4. Provide quality feedback to your students in order for them to know how to improve and for them to see where they have improved.
5. Collaborate with fellow colleagues to improve your own teaching
6. Use every minute of every day and teach students the importance of their own education.
7. Stress the positive; reflect and improve; stay passionate and never settle.
I know that there are other great lists out there and as I grow as a teacher, I’m sure this will evolve as well.
I couldn't agree more! I feel to be a great teacher, you have to be willing to put in a great deal of work. That work should be satisfying to the teacher, though, or else something is obviously wrong--perhaps a teacher who dislikes working harder than the students is in the wrong profession? Also, I agree on the movie issue. I teach fifth grade in a middle school building, and quite a few teachers at the various grade levels feel that a video is the best answer for the day before vacation, party day, substitute teacher plans, etc. I just don't see it that way! I feel we can make much better use of the students' time--not that I'm against letting the students have fun, but I think there's more value in whole-class or small-group games, rather than a mindless video.
ReplyDeleteI must say we are all, in many ways, these master teachers described in the list. Otherwise, why would we be pursuing our masters? But that is the point: We never see the need to stop growing and learning. Students know when a teacher has "checked out" and doesn't want to work hard. That is when students give up too. Why bother, they say? If the teacher doesn't care, why should they?
ReplyDeleteIt is impossible to stay wild and engaged about teaching every day but it is a passion that a teacher needs to nuture in themselves to be an example for students and continue on the journey of knowledge together.
I couldn’t agree more and find that my students are more committed to the education process if they know I am committed to their learning as well. I think your list of master teacher qualities is excellent and describes the type of teacher we all want to be and want our children to have. In order to achieve that level of quality we need to grow.
ReplyDeleteIn my former position, Regional Educational Media Center Coordinator, I witnessed teachers preparing for the day prior to vacation. We always had a run on “fun” movies and received far more requests for AV equipment. We can make better use of students’ time. As Betty commented, I'm not against fun but would rather engage students in educational gaming instead of a "mindless" movie.
I couldn't agree more, you must stay ahead of your students and constantly keep educating yourself to make their education better. The general public doesn't understand a good teachers job doesn't end when they walk out the door or when the final bell rings for summer vacation. To succeed in today's world, a student most be up to date with current events as well as the content in your classroom. Not to mention the technology aspect! I don't think my day is complete until I've taught my content in the best possible way AND the students have taught me something.
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