John Hattie as cited by Drew (2011) identifies eight key qualities that exceptional teachers possess, including; “student initiated learning, empathy, warmth, encouragement of higher-order thinking, encouraging learning, adapting to differences, genuineness, and learner-centered beliefs” (p.86). In comparison when identifying my own strengths as a teacher, I believe I am a warm, genuine teacher who possesses strong adaptation and empathy skills and a belief in learner-centered education. However, my cyber-setting does not always allow me to portray these characteristics. Additionally, I understand that in order to be a top-notch teacher, I need to encourage higher-order thinking skills and student initiated activities. Moreover, I need to help Agora to strive for a more STEM-based environment, as well as, eliminated my own biases while improving on my teaching abilities. When considering Agora’s current STEM practices, I would identify the setting as emerging in its understanding of what STEM truly entails. Rigor and high-order learning are encouraged by administration and are essential elements in our lesson plans. Teachers have received professional development on Norm Webb’s Depth of Knowledge, an essential tool that can move students beyond basic recall of facts to analyzing and synthesizing information (Aungst, 2014). However, instructional time is not designated within our teaching scope and sequence to adequately promote higher-order thinking. Many of the
As a student in the Education Department at Saint Mary’s College, I have been assigned a set of eight standards to fulfill before graduation. Having these standards guides all students in becoming the necessary well-rounded teacher candidates needed to go into the field of education and ultimately becoming a successful teacher in the future. Each standard relates to a different area, including having a broad and comprehensive understanding of learning processes, the professional environment, and content. Throughout the last two years, I have had a number of opportunities, both in the field and in my classes at Saint Mary’s, to meet these eight standards.
STEM integration within America’s schools is a necessary requirement to adequately prepare students to compete in our future society. Although growth in STEM related jobs is quite apparent, knowledge of STEM capacities is necessary to function in the 21st century.
We believe that mathematics, as the language of science and, even more fundamentally, the language of the universe, is essential to any student’s education, especially if he or she wishes to pursue a career in STEM. In middle school, Kaitlyn showed a marked, early interest in STEM subjects. As a result, in the 8th through 12th grades, strong emphasis was placed on STEM coursework; Kaitlyn followed an accelerated, demanding math track of 5 years of high school and college level math and an equally rigorous science curriculum with 4 years of high school and college level science courses. Every science class
In the book, Ten Traits of Highly Effective Principals: From good to Great Performance, McEwan discusses the facilitator in chapter 4 (2003). She describes the facilitator as a leader with abilities to build strong relationships with parents, teachers, and students. One principal in the book, Bill, thought the students would learn more if their teachers are understanding, caring, and genuine as opposed with students who were taught by teachers that were not. This idea was tested and their findings were placed in a book entitled, Kids Don’t Learn From People They Don’t Like (Aspey & Roebuck, 1977). The results of the study described the book perfectly.
America’s school system is dramatically declining due to the lack of preparation that America’s High-school 's fail to deliver to its students. High-schools and their incompetent teachers do not adequately prepare students for jobs in Stem fields. STEM jobs are Science, Technology, Engineering and Math careers that pay wages close to double the U.S average. STEM jobs are vital in order to obtain a thriving market of new ideas and inventions in the world. Without proper teaching from qualified teachers in these particular fields many students may lose interest, not enjoy their teachings, or not even properly understand what STEM jobs are. This leaves many students unsatisfied with their experience limiting their abilities to do something great. Teachers are frequently found lacking degrees in the particular fields they teach: “Almost 40% of high-school math teachers have neither a college major nor minor in math.” (Chang 345). American students learn from unqualified teachers, hindering their ability to get a job in the fast paced twenty first century. It is important to understand the direct correlation between the mastering of essential subject matter and the success of our students to better the country. Studies have been shown to prove that teachers can change the trajectory of their students’ lives. Teachers who lack complete understanding in the fields that they teach can greatly negatively impact students lives further down the course of their lifetimes. Therefore when
When reflecting on what makes an outstanding educator, so many qualities came to mind. Educators have to take on so many roles each and every day, which made distinguishing the most important qualities more difficult. There are so many qualities that a teacher needs to contain to be considered an outstanding educator, but in my opinion, there are four qualities that are the most important and umbrella the many other qualities an educator should have. These four qualities include being compassionate, knowledgeable and flexible. Every outstanding educator has the honor to impact a student’s life each and every day by what they are teaching them but more importantly how they care about them.
I am choosing to express my thoughts on what I believe to be the most essential qualities that an outstanding educator should embody.
In my six years of teaching, I’ve only worked for three principals. Each principal I’ve had has been unique in personality and the style in which they run the school. Consequently, I’ve seen my principals exhibit a few traits of the Ten Traits of Highly Effective Principals fairly well at times, and other times the characteristics of each trait were barely displayed. This makes sense because we all have different strengths and weaknesses. I have five reflections to write on the traits I have observed or not observed from administrators I have worked with.
While there are many ways to be an outstanding teacher, every high-quality teacher should, in my opinion, have these skills and dispositions:
A STEM education is a necessity in the United States because the country is lacking knowledgeable people in such fields. However, one is better equipped for multiple job and career positions with the addition of a liberal arts education. It is nearly impossible to transition to different careers with only vocational training. In 2003, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development studied math and science literacy among fifteen year olds. The United States was ranked number twenty-four in math literacy (Drew 27). They are behind countries such as Finland, Slovak Republic, and Hungary. Likewise, the United States was ranked number nineteen in science literacy (Drew 27). It is obvious that the country is behind. STEM education needs to be reformed at the secondary and post-secondary levels of schooling. Katrina Trinko, a member of USA TODAY’s Board of Contributors, agrees that more emphasis should be placed on STEM education; however, this emphasis should not be at the sacrifice of a good liberal arts education. She writes, “Even technology wizards can become more innovative with a solid background in liberal arts” (Trinko 6). A liberal arts education is beneficial to people in all career fields.
One of the most essential exercises when in comes to professional development as an instructor is to continuously reflect on your perspective, methodology, instruction and behavior within your profession. Doing so ensure that you a growing and improving on teaching skills and building on old strengths to benefit you as an instructor but especially the students that you serve.
Teaching is a difficult occupation. Teachers play an important part in training children, teenagers… So, a good teacher must have some special qualities. They are: knowledge, creation, confidence, empathy, sense of humor and passion.
These teachers are capable and skilled in teaching their niche areas, able to manage co-curriculum vested upon them and follow teaching profession ethics (Teacher Training Division, 2007). Consequently, these teachers strive to become more creative, innovative, pro-active and able to create a difference that would benefit the students (Alimudin, 2010).
This study was conducted in 2 stages. Stage 1 used a modified Reactive Delphi technique to develop and determine content validity of the teacher quality scale. Stage 2 incorporated the distribution of the scale to a convenience sample of students learning English at a private center to determine scale construct validity and internal consistency. Ethical issues in conducting the research was highly aware although there are no such rules in current context of Vietnam.
When I think about teachers that I have had in the past, several different ones come to my mind. Each of these educators stands out in my mind for a variety of diverse reasons. Whether it is their sense of humor, their tactfulness, their love of the subject matter, their fanatical and sporadic behavior, or their yearning to be childish themselves, I can still remember at least one quality of every teacher I have ever encountered. Every one of these teachers conveyed subject material to their students just as they were educated and employed to do. However, I trust that every professional in the world has an abundance of opportunity for improvement; teachers could discover and improve themselves merely by having