The Relationship Makes It

I started this blog to figure out what I could do to be a good teacher to my future students. I wanted to know what qualities where in those teachers that inspire us to do a far better job then we thought could do. Some would say that the teacher’s experience or certification is what makes to them able to do that. However I felt like that was not the answer I was looking for; I want something that was harder to measure- the relationship they create with their students.

Ronald Ferguson

Harvard researcher Ronald Ferguson, says that this relationship is based on the atmosphere of the classroom. A good teacher will maintain a mixed atmosphere of high perfectionism (describing a classroom where getting the right answers is important) and high help (questions are encouraged and view as important).This atmosphere shows children encouragement while also convincing them that they can to do the level of work should be doing. Students in these classrooms are more likely to feel that they have done their best on multiple assignments.

This is especial important when it comes to minority student as they want to please their teachers more than whites. Whites felt that parents were more important. These students are not always given the caring and pushing atmosphere that white students often get through their parents. If they are in a high perfectionism/high help class it is more likely to improve their grades and achievement

So how can a teacher get this environment? Ferguson suggested adopting these five principles.

1. This is a place of mutual support
2. We are going to have order in here
3. We’re going to have very high goals
4. Sometimes this is going to be hard
5. By the end of the year, we will have come a long way

These principles establish caring and trust, create a balance of student autonomy and teacher control, communicate high expectations, set the conditions for students to try their hardest, and demonstrates faith in the student’s abilities.

A teacher cannot just expect student to muddle through the school year on their own. They also cannot just repeat the right “encouraging words” that have no meaning behind them. Teacher must be able to help and expect a correct answer. They must build a strong and supportive relationship with their students. That relationship is want makes a truly good teacher rather than just a well-qualified person.

McAdoo, M. (n.d.). Inside the mystery of good teaching. Retrieved from            http://www.educationoasis.com/instruction/bt/mysterygoodteaching.htm