Next to parents, teachers can shape the future of our children more than any other adult.

In an increasingly unpredictable world it's more important than ever for children to connect with caring, qualified teachers. They need teachers who have the motivation, interest, self confidence and passion to go beyond just teaching children to pass tests -- they must influence their lives.

Quality Is in the Eye of the Beholder

Many of us are satisfied with teachers who keep their classrooms clean and quiet, fulfill the  school's goals, and hand out passing grades to about 95 percent of the children that walk through the classroom door. But when it comes to describing the teachers who really went beyond the basics to influence our lives, it's harder to find common ground.

Defining the qualities of these "good" teachers is not as simple as it might seem. One student might love the types of teachers other people just can't stand. Some kids are frustrated by creative, flexible teachers, while others can't stand teachers who are predictable.

Still, it's not the "easy" teachers or those who give out undeserved praise that most people consider their favorites. It's teachers who pushed us to do our best -- better than even we thought we could. We remember the ones who were willing to put aside the textbook once in awhile and risk telling us about their real lives and why learning is relevant in their lives.

Some of them were not all that organized, but they did bring an order to our lives we had been looking for. They had the illusive empathy that teaching manuals try to explain, but that is only learned in the trenches of classrooms, lunchrooms and after-school conversations. Quality is hard to measure

Recently, a group of Harvard researchers visited 30 first-grade classrooms to evaluate what makes a good reading teacher. They considered not only test scores, but also how interested students seemed in their work.

This is important because many researchers believe that being actively involved with a subject is a more important test of successful learning than memorizing facts for a multiple choice test.

That's why the teacher who teaches "the basics" has done only part of the job. Teachers who love learning and consider their job an adventure teach kids to love learning.

Their ability to add excitement to lessons satisfies students' deeper desires much as the flavors, textures and beauty of a good meal satisfy more than a vitamin pill with the "recommended daily allowance" of nutrients. 

Beyond Test Scores

How can you know that your student has a "good" teacher if you can't just go by test scores?

Here's the hard truth: You have to get involved. You have to participate in school activities, meet parents of other students, and watch how it is going with your child in the classroom.

You have to ask your child questions about his teachers and listen carefully to the answers. (And that's not easy if all your child tells you is that the day went "OK.") You have to take risks and open up in friendly, respectful conversations with a teacher at conference nights and beyond. 

Rewards of Involvement 

When they see active parents watching for results, teachers and administrators know they have to work harder and continually learn new skills. In addition, your help can show them their work is appreciated.

When teachers feel their work is important to their "customers," they stay motivated and energized. Better teachers seek jobs at schools that have a reputation for parent involvement.

You'll have more fun and less stress if you participate in a positive way, asking, "How can I help?" rather than showing, "I'm watching you." When parents get together for a meeting about a troubling teacher and ask questions like, "What are the needs here?" instead of, "How can we change him?" results can be amazing.

Teachers and administrators who feel supported by parents have more positive feelings about their students. Also, students who know their parents, or even the parents of others, may show up at any moment are more likely to cooperate with their teachers and less likely to blame the teacher for every difficult situation.

Teachers have the difficult task of teaching intangible principles to students who are the most tangible of thinkers. Good teachers find ways to draw out the best in the worst of their students and keep the best ones from becoming bored.

When parents become partners with teachers in these challenging tasks, we can change our educational system one classroom at a time. 


Pat Matuszak is a writer, editor and former teacher from Rockford, Michigan. Sources: Harvard Education Newsletter online.