Nick Fuhrman, in his TED talk “The One Thing All Great Teachers Do”, mentions several qualities of a great teacher. Choose one of these traits and write specifically about what you can do to develop this quality in yourself. Who is the greatest teacher you’ve ever had? Did they have this quality? What made this teacher great in your eyes?
I don't know if it is the most important, but it is the one I need to work on the most: Relaying Feedback. I feel I am pretty reflective about my teaching and relaying feedback is the one I am stingy with. I am an English teacher and I always remembered my toughest teachers the best. The ones that demanded a lot from me and had high expectations. Those are the ones I wanted to please the most and the ones I respected the most. Also coming from a sports background, I related the most with hard-nosed coaches. Old School coaches that didn't always praise, but rather corrected. So when it comes to giving a lot of "sunshine" back to kids, well, I am stingy. I have seen how specific feedback when the student actually does real quality work has made a difference to them. Telling kids they did well when it is is not earned doesn't do them any favors. However, I do need to do a better job inspiring kids that make mistakes to want to do better. As Ranger Rick said in the video, "celebrate mistakes" and sometimes relaying feedback is a skill that if done correctly can make or break your student's motivation. Seems like you have to be able to read a student and adjust to their needs. I loved that video. So smart to integrate the animals and "show" how he teaches rather than just "tell" us in a TedTalk. My favorite teachers were always able to show and relay feedback well. I don't know if "CARE" is always so soft and cuddly; it may just need to be specific and what the student needs.
ReplyDeleteI think all the qualities are important. As a 2nd grade teacher i really focused on the caring trait. Sometimes the students that were not doing well in a subject just needed you to show that you cared. I remember 1 student who came into class as a terrible reader. By showing that I cared and working with them and helping them understand they skyrocketed. They just needed someone to show that they cared.
ReplyDeleteI had several great teachers in my early years. I remember specifically 1 teacher who was not always the nicest, happy, or softest but she in fact showed us she cared. She cared enough to hold us to her expectations and knew that we could achieve them. This definitely made an imprint on me and helped me try harder because I wanted to reach that goal! All because that teacher cared!
Choose one of these traits and write specifically about what you can do to develop this quality in yourself.
ReplyDeleteThe trait that I focus on is the caring trait. I want my students to know that I care about them and want to know more about them outside of knowing what they can do academically. To do this, I greet students at the door in the morning and say “good morning” to them. During soft start, I will go around and visit with students. During lunch time, I will visit with students while they are eating. At times, I do have lunch in the classroom with my students.
Who is the greatest teacher you’ve ever had? Did they have this quality? What made this teacher great in your eyes?
The greatest teacher that I had was my ELA teacher. She was so caring and wanted all of us students to exceed. She had the caring trait. She took the time outside of academics to get to know me. In middle school, she went to my basketball games and showed interest in me.
Who is the greatest teacher you’ve ever had? Did they have this quality? What made this teacher great in your eyes?
ReplyDeleteOne quality I feel that I can develop more is relaying feedback. I love circling errors in math and spelling errors on assignments. However, I think it would be more beneficial to pull these students aside and discuss their mistakes, not just point them. Even checking for understanding of how they messed up or got the wrong answer.
Who is the greatest teacher you’ve ever had? Did they have this quality? What made this teacher great in your eyes?
The greates teacher I have had was my high school social studies teacher. He did have this quality. He was a great teacher because he found ways to make it exciting. He wasn't afraid to come up with or do silly things to make us understand what we were learning. We often played Jeopardy for review and when answers were wrong we would discuss the answer instead of him just saying we were wrong.
Who is the greatest teacher you’ve ever had? Did they have this quality? What made this teacher great in your eyes?
ReplyDeleteI really try hard to focus first and foremost on the caring trait. As a child I always felt insecure in school and refrained from asking questions and raising my hand to share answers. I was afraid of saying the wrong thing and getting called out in class by the teacher in a negative way. My goals is to always provide a safe learning environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas even if they are not completely sure.
One of my favorite teacher's growing up was my 3rd grade teacher. She was kind and stern all in the same and she never made you feel silly for asking a question or not understanding something right away. She made it a comfortable environment to approach her and feel like you were part of a class family. After having such a negative experience in 2nd grade, I started thriving in 3rd grade just because I felt safe to speak up and wasn't constantly afraid of being wrong.
A trait that i would like to grow in is providing more individual feedback. To be able to pull individual students aside and reteach and provide further instructions, examples so that they fully understand a concept. Sometimes it seems like the only time to do this is during recess breaks. Ideally, I'd like to carve a little chunk of time each day to provide feedback to student on their work.
I am having difficulty choosing just one and like the acronym so much, that I think I need to aim at all of them. I feel very lucky in that I get to work with students one-on-one and think that helps with students feeling comfortable- since there are no peers around. It is easier to talk and to celebrate strengths and weaknesses throughout the testing. I also get to appreciate student differences and to have good conversations about each of them as a single person. There is not a lot of feedback given during testing, other than what is scripted and allow, but I do relay feedback as I remind (some more than others) that there are going to be easy parts and there are going to be hard parts and all I expect is for them to do their best, not perfect on all items. I am able to evaluate myself and my connection to each student. Some are definitely more open and easier to visit with and share, while others come in with a more closed-off mindset of just getting it done and going on with their day. All I can do in these cases is try to make the student feel as comfortable as I can in the environment in order that they do their best for me. I really like that the whole message is CARE.
ReplyDeleteThe greatest teacher I ever had was my high school math teacher. He was a very good teacher, a big guy, and he related well to the students. He had patience and a way of explaining complex math that made it make sense and was understandable. He also liked to joke and have fun with our class so laughter and a relaxed atmosphere was in the classroom every day. I was privileged that he ended up teaching at the same college as I attended, and I was able to go to him with questions there as well. Not his intention, I am sure, as he was surprised as I was when I ran into him there.
Nick Fuhrman emphasizes the importance of continually evaluating yourself as a teacher. I can develop this quality by regularly reflecting on my lessons, asking for feedback from colleagues and families, and honestly considering what worked well and what I could improve. I can also review student data and behaviors to determine whether my instruction is truly meeting their needs, especially in Early Childhood Special Education where growth can look different for every child. The greatest teacher I ever had was my fifth-grade teacher. He modeled this quality by turning every mistake into a teachable moment. Instead of focusing on failure, he used errors as opportunities for growth, which made learning feel safe and supportive. What made him great in my eyes was that he believed in his students, maintained high expectations, and showed that mistakes were part of the learning process.
ReplyDeleteOne quality Nick Fuhrman highlights in his TED Talk, “The One Thing All Great Teachers Do,” is that great teachers just CARE. While I appreciate every component of this acronym: Celebrating mistakes, appreciating differences, relaying feedback, and evaluating ourselves, overall, the biggest takeaway for me is the acronym in its entirety. Great teachers just CARE. As a School Counselor, I see firsthand how much of an impact genuine care has on students’ engagement, well-being, and futures. To continue developing this quality in myself, I will focus on building authentic relationships with each student, listening actively, checking in regularly, and making sure students feel seen and valued. I will also reflect more on my interactions daily, asking whether I approached each student with empathy and understanding, and I look for small ways to recognize and celebrate their individual strengths and achievements.
ReplyDeleteThe greatest teacher I ever had was my elementary music teacher. She was incredibly kind and genuinely caring, taking the time to make every student feel seen and heard. Yes, she embodied this quality fully. What made her exceptional in my eyes was the way she welcomed each student every day, remembered personal details about us, and created a classroom environment where everyone felt special and important. Her consistent care and attention not only made learning enjoyable but also gave me a sense of confidence and belonging that I carry with me to this day.
By modeling that same attentiveness and thoughtfulness, I aim to bring the same sense of care to every student I work with, knowing that even small gestures of recognition and support can have a lasting impact.
The greatest teacher I ever had was a teacher who truly cared about every student in the class. They made an effort to learn about our lives, interests, and goals. If someone was having a difficult day, they noticed and offered support. Because they cared so much, students wanted to work hard and do their best. They also made lessons engaging and fun, which made learning feel meaningful instead of stressful.
ReplyDeleteWhat made this teacher great in my eyes was that they believed in their students. They pushed us to try our best while still being supportive and understanding. Their care and encouragement created a classroom environment where everyone felt comfortable participating and learning. That quality of genuine care is something I would like to develop in myself as a teacher because it can make a lasting difference in students’ lives.
To develop this quality in myself, I can focus on building strong relationships with students. This means taking time to learn about their interests, listening when they share ideas or concerns, and making sure every student feels valued in the classroom. I can also check in with students regularly, celebrate their successes, and encourage them when they struggle. Showing patience, respect, and empathy helps students feel safe and motivated to learn.
The one thing that great teachers do is CARE. I care for all of my students but I know that I can do a better job at caring. I work with my students for 20-25 minutes everyday. That is a short amount of time to fit all the learning in that needs to be done so I don't make those close connections with my students. I feel I need to work on making better connections with my students. I tried to take a few minutes on Monday and Friday to talk about their plans for the weekend or what they did over the weekend but I need to make better connections with them. The greatest teacher I ever had was my third grade teacher. I knew that she cared about me. She made learning fun for all of us. She also cared about how we were doing as kids at home and at school. She took the time to talk with us and connect with us. She also greeted us with a smile everyday. She made me feel special and important.
ReplyDeleteOne of the greatest things that teachers can do is care. I care deeply for all of my students and I make an effort to know who they are outside of their academics. Because of this I am able to build a level of respect and trust with my students that I wouldn't be able to if I didn't care. One of my favorite teachers I ever had was amazing at this quality. She always could tell if I was having a bad day or if something was off and she never let it go unnoticed. She came to sporting events and made and effort to be in her students lives outside of the classroom. Because she was so caring and loving towards her students it made me want to go to school every day and be in her class and learn.
ReplyDeleteNick Fuhrman, in his TED talk “The One Thing All Great Teachers Do”, mentions several qualities of a great teacher. Choose one of these traits and write specifically about what you can do to develop this quality in yourself. Who is the greatest teacher you’ve ever had? Did they have this quality? What made this teacher great in your eyes?
ReplyDeleteI think the most important quality a teacher can have is being a caring individual. I also think teachers have to LOVE kids!! If you don't love kids, you are in the wrong business! I have high expectations for all students and this helps build a relationship with all. I also think one of my biggest qualities is being fair! I know that teaching middle schoolers isn't always easy but they see you being fair or treating others differently. Students make mistakes daily and they are learning and it's very important we hold them accountable. One of my favorite teachers was my HS math teacher. He taught me that math doesn't come easy to all and you need to teach in ways to reach the students. He was so patient with students and that is something I remember the most and have always tried to incorporate into my classroom.
In his TED Talk “The One Thing All Great Teachers Do,” Nick Fuhrman emphasizes that great teachers truly care about their students. This quality stands out to me because it goes beyond content knowledge—it’s about building relationships and making students feel valued.
ReplyDeleteTo develop this quality in myself, I can be more intentional about building connections with my students. For example, I can take time to learn about their interests, ask them about their lives outside of school, and check in with them regularly. Small actions like greeting students at the door, attending their extracurricular events, or following up when they seem off can show that I genuinely care. I can also create a classroom environment where students feel safe, respected, and heard, which encourages them to engage more deeply in learning.
My first grade teacher was the best teacher I had. She had a softness about her that made everyone feel welcome and comfortable in the classroom.
Each quality that was presented is important. While this may not be the most important quality, it's important to celebrate mistakes. Too many students today make perfection necessary for success. None of us will ever attain perfection. I encourage my students to learn through making mistakes. When we make mistakes, we analyze what needs to be changed. Mistakes help us think critically. I make mistakes and own them. This also helps the students realize they do not need to be perfect. Students also become teachers themselves when they problem-solve with one another. I want to be an encouragement to my students so that they know mistakes simply make us reevaluate and grow in both teaching and learning.
ReplyDeleteI remember a math professor in college who encouraged me so often when I was sure I was going to fail. I was a non-traditional student, a mother of 3 young children, and I returned to the classroom filled with anxiety, not certain that I would succeed. He was patient and encouraging as I navigated my way in a world of email and computers.
I think the more kids know that you care, the more they gravitate toward you. The saying that kids don’t care what you know until they know that you care is so important and true. I do simple things to show that I care. Ask them how their day is going, helping them open their locker, when they are talking to you, give them your undivided attention. You can do a lot of things that don’t take a lot of effort but means a lot to the kid.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite teacher would go out of his way when he saw you to say good morning and have a great day. If he saw a student struggling with something, he would ask them if they would like to talk about it and how could he help. This is the kind of person I want to be and I work on this every day.
I think all of the traits that he mentioned are important. I enjoyed this Ted talk! The one I would choose to work on is the relaying feedback one. I think all of the other ones I do well, but this is one that I could put more focus on. I love that the speaker teaches old students, but still puts stickers on their papers. It just goes to show that feedback is imporant and that students pay attention to it!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite teacher was my 7th grade Science teacher. She is no longer living. She was great at building relationships, not only in her classroom, but also anywhere in the building. She was always talking to students, asking them how their day was, and showing that she truly cared. I think that is why she was my favorite and the one I remember the most. Students respond better to teachers that take the time with them and show them that they care. I see it in my own children! The teachers they talk about the most are the ones they've built relationships with. It's an important thing to do!!