Teaching seems like it would be an easy job. I've always heard people say, "I mean, how hard is teaching? You just have to give the material to kids and make them learn it." That may be their definition of teaching, but what about great teaching? Is that the same thing? NO!!! It could not be more different than what I just described.
For me, great teaching is a lot how Bill Ayres in chapter 7 explained. On page 97 he stated, "Greatness in teaching engages students, interacts with them, draws their energy and direction from them, and offers reasons to plunge into classroom life." This is that great teaching is to me. A lot of great teaching concepts have to show with interacting with their students, rather than just giving them worksheet after worksheet, telling them to memorize the concepts. That is not teaching. That's constructing a machine. A machine to simply spit ball information automatically, not truly understanding the relationship as to why it matters.
A common error by most teachers is that the tests are the reason why students learn the information. Standardized testing has become a monster. Crushing students' dreams by saying they aren't smart enough, when in reality, it doesn't show how smart the are. It may show how "book" smart they are but what about the other parts that is included in intelligence? Like character? In a chapter of Educational Foundations, A. S. Neil explains that one of his students, named Jack failed his university exams because he hated the book learning but when he stepped into a room for a interview, he had amazing character that surprised the interviewer in an outstanding way. He is now an extremely talented engineer. This shows that a failed test should not stop a student from continuing on in their life, when in today's society people are viewing standardized testing as the death or birth of their future.
Because of my strong beliefs, when I become a teacher, my lesson plan will be all about interacting with my students and seeing if they understand the topic, not just for the tests but to help them in their future and linking different topics together. Of course, tests will probably be required in the school district that I'll be at, but I will continue to work on their attitude and character because this is what truly matter for their future. Character and being confident is how most people get jobs. Not on how they scored on their third grade reading test. The skill of confidence and having a good character can get people very fair and have them be extremely successful.
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