The Newly Ancient blog recently covered what they find to be the top traits possessed by “quality teachers.” I have quoted a snippet of each below:

#1 Passion

Without this, it is impossible to become a great teacher. If you don’t love your subject, how can you expect your students to? I don’t think this is an issue for most teachers. Still, it is always important to emphasize.

#2 Creativity

With the onslaught of standardized testing and curriculum this might be getting harder, but it is still very important. Regardless of discipline, creativity is paramount. Sure, you can be a good teacher by taking prepackaged material and efficiently transmitting it.

#3 Flexibility

Students have complex lives, as do you. If everything is set in stone, you’ll eventually crack. When an A student fails a test, you have to be ready to be flexible.

#4 Integrate

I am a firm believer in integrated curriculum and content. Life isn’t in isolated boxes, so learning shouldn’t be either. I often hear the complaint that there isn’t support from administration or other teachers. To that, I say “So what?”

#5 Connect

Information can’t be transmitted without a solid connection, and neither can knowledge. You need to form a connection with each and every student. Technically speaking, the knowledge has to form a connection to the student, but you are the representation and medium of that knowledge.

DISCUSSION: Do you agree with these? Do you disagree with any? Is it wrong to boil down the traits of teachers down to any top five list?

An inspiring new website is set to launch! My Teacher, My Hero, an interactive site where anyone in the world can post a video testimonial for his or her favorite teacher, promises to give due thanks to some special teachers, and inspire some new heroes as well. My Teacher, My Hero hasn’t launched yet, but we have a sneak preview.

Celebrities and global leaders such as Dave Winfield, Warner Brothers’ Barry Meyer, and Disney’s Dick Cook have already posted their own stories on the site. Check out the site and post your own video!

“What Teachers Make, or Objection Overruled, or If things don’t work out, you can always go to law school”

By Taylor Mali

He says the problem with teachers is, “What’s a kid going to learn
from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?”
He reminds the other dinner guests that it’s true what they say about
teachers:
Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.

I decide to bite my tongue instead of his
and resist the temptation to remind the other dinner guests
that it’s also true what they say about lawyers.

Because we’re eating, after all, and this is polite company.

“I mean, you’re a teacher, Taylor,” he says.
“Be honest. What do you make?”

And I wish he hadn’t done that
(asked me to be honest)
because, you see, I have a policy
about honesty and ass-kicking:
if you ask for it, I have to let you have it.

You want to know what I make?

I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional medal of honor
and an A- feel like a slap in the face.
How dare you waste my time with anything less than your very best.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall
in absolute silence. No, you may not work in groups.
No, you may not ask a question.
Why won’t I let you get a drink of water?
Because you’re not thirsty, you’re bored, that’s why.

I make parents tremble in fear when I call home:
I hope I haven’t called at a bad time,
I just wanted to talk to you about something Billy said today.
Billy said, “Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don’t you?”
And it was the noblest act of courage I have ever seen.

I make parents see their children for who they are
and what they can be.

You want to know what I make?

I make kids wonder,
I make them question.
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them write, write, write.
And then I make them read.
I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful
over and over and over again until they will never misspell
either one of those words again.
I make them show all their work in math.
And hide it on their final drafts in English.
I make them understand that if you got this (brains)
then you follow this (heart) and if someone ever tries to judge you
by what you make, you give them this (the finger).

Let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true:
I make a goddamn difference! What about you?

Taylor Mali

On Tuesday President Barack Obama welcomed 55 Teachers of the Year to the White House, including this year’s
Teacher of the Year, retired New York police captain, special education teacher Anthony Mullen from the Arch School in Greenwich, Conn.

Here are some of the President’s remarks:

You know, we’ve got a lot of teachers here today and I’m a big fan of teachers because every single day in classrooms all across America, you are making a difference. You don’t always get the recognition that you deserve. We don’t always value the teaching profession like we should.

But every once in a while, I think people start to understand not just in their own lives but in the lives of the nation how important the teaching profession is and how we’ve got to do a better job of lifting it up. In a global economy where the greatest job qualification isn’t what you can do but what you know, our teachers are the key to our nation’s success; to whether America will lead the world in the discoveries and the innovations and economic prosperity of this new century.

And that’s why as President I’m committed to doing everything I can to support the work of teachers. That’s why we’re working to create better standards and assessments that teachers can use in their classroom. That’s why we’re promoting innovation in teaching and learning, making critical investments in early childhood education, and helping more Americans walk through the door of higher education.

And it’s why we’re taking ground-breaking steps to recruit, prepare, support and reward outstanding teachers — to encourage our best and brightest young people to follow in the footsteps of folks just like you. This is especially critical right now, as so many teachers from the baby boom generation are preparing to retire — although they all look pretty young back here — (laughter) — we’re not worried about that. And recent evaluations of student performance show that while we’re making progress, we still have a long way to go.

I know personally, Michelle knows that what teachers do is not easy. My sister, Maya, is a teacher; Jill Biden, a teacher. We know how hard teachers work. And I know what all of you do by staying past that last bell; staying up late grading those papers; putting together lesson plans; spending your own money on books and supplies; and going beyond the call of duty. You do it because you know that’s what will make a difference, because you believe that there’s no such thing as a child that can’t learn; that every child has their own gifts, and it’s up to us to discover them — and it’s up to us to see in our children what they can’t yet see in themselves.

And for you, those teachers who are in attendance today and for so many of your colleagues across this country, teaching is not just about a paycheck — it’s a passion and it’s a calling.

You can read Dr. Jill Biden’s account of the day here.

Today, Senator Dan Patrick (R-Houston) filed legislation to reverse the growing shortage of math and science teachers across the state of Texas.

Senate Bill 816 creates a scholarship program for college students pursuing degrees in math or science. The program would provide each recipient with an annual scholarship of up to $5,000 for four years. Upon graduation, the graduate would be required to teach math or science for four years in underserved areas of the state.

Recent studies on the shortage of teachers revealed the shortage is most felt in secondary math and science faculty. As an example, high school science teachers shortages have increased 80 percent since 2004.

“The shortage of math and science degreed teachers is forcing teachers without a strong background in these areas to fill the gaps,” stated Senator Patrick. “Current certification exam results show almost half of prospective math and science teachers lack strong content knowledge of these fields.”

“When districts are experiencing shortages in subject areas such as math and science, it is far more constructive to find ways to help more people obtain the appropriate certification than to assign teachers out of field. The Texas Classroom Teachers Association supports Sen. Patrick’s proposal, and we look forward to working with him to develop solutions to teacher shortages,” said Holly Eaton, Texas Classroom Teachers Association Director of Professional Development and Advocacy.

Read the full story.