Panel

(Today included one of the most useful sessions we've had so far. In one hour, we heard almost all of the advice it took us a month to learn, from the mouths of those who knew it best. The following is a summary of the panel we listened to today. The panel included 6 students and 3 veteran teachers from this school. I have included most of the students' comments. My thoughts are in parentheses.)

A great teacher is into you, they care about you, they call home to introduce themselves, they call you out for not doing your work, but you know it's for your own good.

A great teacher says that they care about you and whether you go to college. They give motivational speeches, tell you that you can do it, make you want to do your work.

Advice for new teachers:
Don't come off as too friendly because students take advantage, but don't come off as too strict.
Other student: be nice, let students get to know you.
Be funny.
Find a way to relate to the students in any way.
Videos, music, short abbreviated activities.
Give the kids an opportunity to relate to you.
Connect the subject matter to itself and to their lives.

(The students loved talking and taking charge of the classroom)

Allow students to make mistakes, point them out, but don't criticize the first time.

Start off the year with team-building exercises for the class.

LEARN NAMES! Pay extra attention for the kids who are not super popular, and make connections with them.

Remind students it's okay to ask questions. Show them you don't think they're dumb. Have a question box (IDK Box) – sometimes make each student contribute an idea.
Let students work in groups, they may be more willing to ask each other questions and learn from each other (consider ELLs).
Let students self-teach sometimes, and they'll be more curious.
Remind them to ask questions, to stop and reflect.

If you call home with positive feedback, students are more likely to do it again.

Any student is willing to write an essay if it's on a topic they like. They also dislike writing because it's challenging, they haven't had enough practice. They feel like they don't write as well as they speak. Don't make writing a punishment. Break down essay-writing into chunks.

Breaking things down into steps makes any task accessible. It makes them feel like they're taking a shortcut.

Don't go crazy with the red pen. It makes kids hate writing. It makes them feel like they wasted their time. Tell them they accomplished something.

Students enjoy classroom debates.

If you have a bad day, the students will notice, but they'll forgive you. Tomorrow is another day. Similarly, allow students to redeem themselves. Forgive them as well.

A good teacher notices your weaknesses and turns them into strengths.

Having a good teacher makes you want to visit them every year and tell them how well they're doing.

Students don't readily see a reward for succeeding in class—show them how to connect academic success with future financial success (right now I'm pretending that all of my friends who paid $180,000 for a college education are employed).

(And they they turned the tables:) What do teachers want in a good student? (We raised our hands, they called on us. They moderated each other. They corrected each others' grammar! They asked for equal participation around the room.) How do teachers deal with rowdy students? What are teachers willing to do for struggling students? Why did you want to become teachers? (They wanted to hear answers from all of us.)

A student interrupted the closing commentary to say: The last thing my father said to me before I never saw him again was Don't fear failure. You will fail, and it will be okay anyway, and then you'll be better.

The last thought: A great teacher is _______________________.

Persistent.
Motivational.
Epic.
Exciting.
Forgiving.
Understanding.
Engaging.

(I think they saw us as people today.)