What Makes a Good Teacher Great?

Introduction

• Presenter: Kesmat El Deeb
• Topic: Insights from 26,000 responses on what makes a good teacher great.
• Experience: 24 years of teaching, explored perspectives from various school types.

Listening to Students

• Importance of listening: Schools often avoid asking students what they think due to fear of the answers.
• Example: One profound answer - "A great teacher eats apples."
  • Initially dismissed as silly, later realized it symbolized trust and relationship.

Understanding Student Perspectives

• "A great teacher is chill"
  • Meaning: Teachers should remain calm and not take everything too seriously.
• Kids have their own language of communication.
  • Example: Responses like "fine" and "OK" convey deeper meanings.

Key Patterns in Responses

• Love for Teaching and Learning

  • 70% of students mentioned a great teacher loves to teach and learn.
  • Students want to see teachers learning alongside them.

• Great Teacher Isn’t a Teacher

  • Students want experiential learning rather than traditional teaching.
  • Example: Learning to ride a bike involves experience, not just theory.

Relating to Student Lives

• Understanding Life Outside School
  • Students lead complex lives outside the classroom.
  • Example: Yvette, a tough student, faced challenges at home affecting her homework.
  • Great teachers notice struggles and listen deeply.

Taking Risks and Being Humble

• A great teacher sings
  • Engaging students through humor and creativity can create a connection.
  • Example: Singing daily agenda led to unexpected positive student response.

Importance of Listening

• Schools fail to teach listening skills.
  • Emphasis is placed on reading, writing, and public speaking, but not listening.
• Listening is a crucial skill for success in life and business.

Conclusion

• If educators truly listened to students, they could transform schools and education.
• Call to action: Engage students in discussions about what makes a great teacher and genuinely listen to their feedback.

Final Thoughts

• Schools hold the potential to nurture future leaders like Maya Angelou and Elon Musk through attentive listening.