Denise Johnson on teachers: Likable, but what's more, engaging
He was a tall man with a big voice who used his hands for punctuation and was in constant motion around the classroom. He made eye contact with each of his 11-year-olds looking for those precious a-ha! moments -- the times when a concept clicked, the math problem made sense, or an idea in Chapter 5 became clear.
Simply put, my sixth-grade teacher made the classroom exciting. Mr. G loved learning, and that enthusiasm was contagious; he made us hungry to learn more. He presented the material in a clear manner and was exceptional at asking the questions to engage us in discussion.
For me, Mr. G set the bar for outstanding teaching. Educators who had the strongest impact on me throughout the rest of my education shared many of those same qualities. But it wasn't just about the force of their personalities or being likable. Instructors can be fun and entertaining, yet still do a poor job at making sure students master the subject.
What made a difference for me was having teachers who were enthusiastic, engaging and energized by students. The standouts showed interest in me personally; they cared enough to have high expectations of me and didn't hesitate to push me a little harder when I needed it.
My adult daughter saw those same qualities in her best teachers, especially her high school physics teacher. Though she passed the required courses, science was not her favorite or her forte. But this particular teacher helped her enjoy and even look forward to the subject matter.
Mr. B was only a couple of years out of college and made principles of physics come alive. He had a gift for turning around attitudes about a subject many students dreaded. His classes might be held on the school lawn or on a walk around the block. Real-life applications kept his students curious.
Clear instruction, passion, high expectations, compassion -- those are among the qualities that make a good teacher great.
Denise Johnson is at ddjohnson@startribune.com.
