Great Teachers: We Need You

While most of us have teachers from our past who have inspired and shaped us, the sad reality is we’ve all had some real duds as well.

Remember that class that you dreaded attending? You showed up just as the bell rang and watched the clock minute after painful minute until the bell rang again releasing you from the misery of that class?

It’s quite possible you’ve had more duds in your educational career than superstar teachers. Both the highs and the lows tend to stand out for me.

In May, I wrote a post called “What Makes a Great Teacher?”and described how inspiring my 7^th grade social studies teacher, Mrs. Stephan, was for me. Ironically, that same year, I had a science teacher that I’ll always remember for all the wrong reasons.

I’ll call him Mr. Mumbles to hide his actual identify all these years later.  But here was a teacher who could not have been more ineffective as an educator. I recall nothing about science from that impressionable year in my life, but I do recall many things about him and how he ran his class.

Me in 7th grade

First, he mumbled. It was painful. Our sizable class was spread over numerous lab stations – complete with sinks and gas jets for Bunsen burners. Depending on where you sat, his mumbles were inaudible. If you could hear him, it made little difference. His lectures were dry, boring and rambling. Let’s just say National Geographic film days that took up most of the period were a welcome relief.

Naturally, when Mr. Mumbles spoke, the class disengaged. Usually a small subset of students moved to the front with their pens and pads of paper to hear him talk and take notes, while others did whatever they wanted.

Personally, I joined both groups depending on my mood, but as the year wore on, I found myself drawing pictures in my notebook or staring at a girl with braces and long ponytail whom I fantasized about talking to, but could never muster up the courage to actually do so.

In that same May 15 blog, I revealed a number of brilliant replies to a question I posted to a Linked In discussion group. Specifically I asked, “I am researching great classroom facilitation. What qualities do you think make teachers great?”

I’d like to revisit this topic of “Great Teachers” because I received so many wonderful replies to that question from all over the world. These particular 5 insightful trainers, educators and learning consultants are from Canada and the United Kingdom.

Here is what each had to say.

Tuula Lindholm, a training and learning solution specialist from Toronto, Canada, provided the following qualities of great teachers:

• Encouraging story-telling, dialoguing to allow issues to surface fully


• Listening for cues and clues about learning needs that may not be so obvious

• Responding and having others respond to/comment on to encourage consensus building and/or to draw out multiple points of view (not just the popular ones...)

Ability to admit own limitations, lack of knowledge, when necessary



Fran Traynor, lead trainer and learning designer at New College in Manchester in the United Kingdom, wrote:

“In my experience, great teachers are assistants and guides to people learning. They help people to identify what they need to know/do and then they assist people in getting enthusiastic about setting and travelling towards goals, reaching, assessing and celebrating their achievements both stage by stage and holistically."

Jane Smith Parsons, a curriculum development consultant in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, noted that great teaching is an art. She wrote:

“Great facilitation is knowing how to deliver the technical aspects in a way that comes across relaxed, fun, and engaging….We must always remember that great facilitation brings out the best in others... It is not our experience but theirs... So we must understand the multitude of ways others become engaged and offer up the opportunities through a sequential and necessary process that heightens each individual's learning experience.”

Paul Cook is an on demand learning specialist living in London, England. He wrote:

“What the learner does is more important than what he teacher does.”

Kevin Fitzsimons, an education consultant from Hull, United Kingdom, was equally concise stating the quality he feels is critical for a great teacher. He wrote:

“A sense of humour, which helps you to keep a sense of proportion.”

So, to sum it up, I am taking away this list:

• Skilled storyteller
• Patient listener
• Discussion leader
• Classroom guide
• Artist
• Persistently student-focused
• Good sense of humor

I think that’s a darn good list. Thank you Tuula, Fran, Jane, Paul and Kevin. Your insights are appreciated and exceptionally well-stated.

My 7th grade yearbook

As for my paradoxical 7^th grade year at Springman Junior High School in Glenview, Illinois, I

survived. Perhaps this heaven and hell experience was training for future blissful and then disappointing moments that happened in close proximity to each other. Sadly, mediocrity in the classroom is more common than it should be.

For teachers in schools, in companies and in any location where the goal is to learn, the opportunity to be great is so awesome and critically important. Don’t shrink from it, but embrace it. We need you.