Makes
students his or her top priority;
Has the ability to stimulate
students;
Consistently looks for and brings to the classroom current
and stimulating material;
Works with students outside the classroom on
projects that give students a practical application for the subject;
Keeps up with his or her field of expertise;
Has the ability to see
individual differences in students;
Has the ability to get students to
ask challenging questions;
Has enthusiasm for what he or she is
teaching;
Really does care about his or her students, and
Has the
ability to teach students how to think and problem-solve.
The
problem(s) we face today is how we can find ways to make classroom
teaching important once again in society. Until we find a way to
recognize and reward great teachers and make it as vital in our society
as coaching a championship sports team, were never going to solve our
problems in education. We also have to do a better job of training our
future teachers. Until our universities make training teachers a top
priority, were never going to have enough master teachers.
Some
say there is no real way to evaluate how effective teachers are in a
classroom. I dont agree. Having spent 35 years in the classroom at the
high school, junior college, college and university levels, I can walk
in a classroom and tell in a short period of time whether or not a
teacher is a master teacher.
It is not the building or
even the equipment although both are important that makes the
educational system work. It is the master teacher.
Ivan Holmes, Oklahoma City
Holmes is a past regent and commissioner to the Education Commission of the States under former Gov. David Boren.