O/T- give me your school/teacher stories please!

katy1987

Hey all

I'm compiling some anectodal research for a short essay entitled, "Relationships are fundamental to good teaching and learning". (I'm applying for a place on a teacher training course.)

Basically what I'd love is to hear from you guys what kind of relationships you had with your favourite/least favourite teachers at school. Also, which teaching style do you think was most effective for you? For example, do you feel you learnt more with an authoritarian teacher who didn't take any nonsense or one who had a more friendly relationship with the pupils?

Obviously there are good and bad points about both strict and laid-back teaching styles but I'd reeeeally appreciate some thoughts on the matter

cheeeeers!

jadelois

I was actually talking about this with my brother today because I said if I became a teacher there is a certain teacher at school that I would want to be like. I wouldn't particularly say he was strict in his approach to the pupils, more that he was disappointed in you, which imo hurt a hell of a lot more than getting shouted at by a teacher. Plus he had an immense love of the subject he taught.

blue_ashleigh

I think the best teachers are those who are really enthusiastic - the teachers who were really good and had the classes attention (even the chavs who normally messed around) were the ones who loved what they taught and so when they were teaching they were showing passion and enthusiasm. Generally the teachers who loved their subject knew a lot about it (obviously) and so could relate the 'boring' bits of the curicculum to something interesting. Plus if the teacher hates the subject then no-one really pays attention to them!

I think authoritatian teachers, although no-one really misbehaved in their class, didn't really teach you anything. Teachers who are fun, but also know where to draw the line are the best because you see them as people (which when your in school it's hard to imagine teachers are real!). I had one maths teacher in school who was fantastic, she was so optimistic and encouraging that everyone wanted to do really well, and even the chavs (who generally live by the rule of the worse the grades the better!) would try hard (or harder than normally at least). If you didn't do well she looked all disappointed. However, being toooooo 'friendly' isn't good either - all I learnt from one maths teacher was that about his drinking and sleeping in his car, and a science teacher taught us pretty much nothing except that to draw a lightbulb you draw a man bending over with trousers round his ankles! If they're too laid back no-one really listens to them and just mucks around.

I think teachers who stuck to writing on the blackboard (though apparently you can't call them this anymore and schools now have white boards or something?) and making you copy relentlessly were the worst. Whereas teachers who tried to relate things back to something interesting (using props etc) had everyone's attention and you remember it better.

Well... to summarise, teachers who seem 'real' (i.e. sense of humour and not dictators) are the ones who had everyone's attention and people actually did work for them!

MrsManda

blue_ashleigh wrote: »

I think teachers who stuck to writing on the blackboard (though apparently you can't call them this anymore and schools now have white boards or something?)

you can still call them blackboards but they're not used much any more as most schools moved to white boards and pens, rather than chalk. Though I think a lot of schools now use interactive boards where things are projected on to the screen. The joy of technology

Hmm I could talk about my school teachers all day... but I won't my favourite teacher was probably my chemistry teacher. Because he'd actually done a chemistry degree he knew his subject really well and enjoyed teaching it. It wasn't that he particularly tried hard to make the subject fun, and he had a mildly sarcastic streak in him but he kept us busy and amused and related the syallabus to something real.
The most useful skill I think a teacher can have is the ability to teach the syllabus in such a way it doesn't feel like you're learning to an exam (which you are really) but learning things because they are interesting.

Teachers who shouted never really held my attention. As jadelois said, it's the ones who enjoy their subject and just look disappointed in you when you've not tried your best that hold the most power. I've had many teachers who are scary/upsetting when they're angry or disappointed with you but who you know will always be there if you need help even if you think it's silly.

Ofcourse this really depends on what age group you're applying the teaching style to. What are you applying for?
as an aside, I have a friend who's job is to teach teachers fun ways to teach. Apparently a lot of people go through teacher training and have spent so much time being told how to teach they've no longer know how to teach the way they want to. Which I think is quite sad my friend on the other hand isn't allowed to teach children directly as she's not been through teacher training
Good luck with your essay and applications - don't forget why you're doing it

katy1987

Definitely I keep coming across the same opinions on this, that the best kind of teacher is fun but know where to draw the line, and doesn't lose his/her temper but motivates the pupils in a positive way and brings in ideas/props not necessarily stipulated by the curriculum.

Does anyone disagree on any of the ideas discussed? If so, why? For example, does anyone think a totally traditional (i.e. strict and impersonal) teacher is the best kind?

Has anyone got any experience of a teacher with whom you couldn't form a relationship (for instance, because they were frequently absent)?

Is a student-teacher relationship (in the professional sense of course) crucial for good results?

katy1987

thanks mrsmanda. i'm applying for primary SCITT, looking to teach KS1 to start with at least

littlepinkstars44

i had a really good Spanish and French teacher in school, and we became really good friends, as we had a lot in common.And she helped me with Spanish this year, as i was doing a uni class in spanish as my college had ran out of languages to teach me! I still meet up with her even now for a coffee

itsakindof_magic

Hi! Not sure if this is any use to you - but I'm looking at it from the other way, as I'm in my final year of training to be a primary teacher - but I agree that relationships are fundamental for good teaching and learning to take place. I always try to be relaxed and create fun lessons for children that motivate and excite them, but there also has to be an elemet of respect. Children must know where the line is, and I;ve found once this is established you can have a great time with them, while they are still learning lots and meeting their targets and learning objectives. Finding out what the children's interests are outside the classroom and using ideas from these in lessons can mean children actually want to learn and find out and quite often come back in the morning with more information they found out at home! I also think though, while it's important a teacher is friendly you never actually treat children as 'friends', you still need that authority and presence

talkhard

My absolute favourite teacher (and many others) was notorious for his rages if anyone misbehaved in class. They were legendary throughout the school. However, he was also one of the funniest teachers there was and the help he gave to his pupils was above and beyond.

Those teachers who tried to be your best friend or were too strict were quickly forgotten in my school and never respected.. the best teacher-pupil relationships are the ones where the teacher mimics a good parent-child relationship.

Thats a very vague title you have there, understandably so for an entrance paper though. Good luck with it.

Oldernotwiser

katy1987 wrote: »

Hey all

I'm compiling some anectodal research for a short essay entitled, "Relationships are fundamental to good teaching and learning". (I'm applying for a place on a teacher training course.)

Basically what I'd love is to hear from you guys what kind of relationships you had with your favourite/least favourite teachers at school. Also, which teaching style do you think was most effective for you? For example, do you feel you learnt more with an authoritarian teacher who didn't take any nonsense or one who had a more friendly relationship with the pupils?

Obviously there are good and bad points about both strict and laid-back teaching styles but I'd reeeeally appreciate some thoughts on the matter

cheeeeers!

I think that you need to have some idea of what period you're talking about. A teaching style that would have been considered very laid back when I was at school would probably be thought exceptionally authoritarian nowadays!

bestpud

I had a teacher (80s - secondary level) who scared me. She taught maths, was very strict, but worst of all, was Scottish and I couldn't understand her half the time! I struggle with the Scottish accent more than any other I have come across!

She was awful because she seemed to take pleasure in belittling people - Anne Robinson on 'The Weakest Link' reminds me of her a lot.

Anyway, she happened to park next to me in a supermarket car park just a few years back (I was in my thirties), and I found myself standing by to let her past for fear she would tell me off!

I thought it was quite funny afterwards, but at the time, my instant reaction was one of fear! I never learnt a lot in her lessons either as she would ridicule anyone who stood out, or showed a lack of knowledge - I used to swot between lessons so I wouldn't be caught out by her and so learnt it all from a GCSE revision book!

On the other hand:

My dd has a great HT, imo. DD is scared of her if she has done something wrong (she does not take a threat of being sent to her lightly, but tbh she needs that!) but at the same time, she loves her to bits. She really looks forward to her teaching them and happily goes up to her for a chat.

She's very strict (in comparison to many these days) and yet the children clearly find her approachable and are always running up to tell her things etc.

She is also a good leader and deals with things as they arise, and with no !!!!! footing about. It's a small school but they are clearly a great team and that can only benefit the children.

On a personal level, I'll be honest and say we have never really hit it off (there are other staff members I find easier to talk to), but I cannot fault her ability to do her job well at all.

Whether anyone with enough training or experience is capable of hitting that balance between strict, but fun and approachable, I don't know, but I think every teacher should aim for it.

Sorry that was long! I hope it is helpful.