Page 10 - An Ideal Teacher

Assesses the learner based on individual progress

Like everyone we meet in the world, learners are unique and different. They are

shaped by life experiences, home situations, socio-economic statuses, IQ level and

relationships. Thus, an ideal teacher uses her knowledge of the learner’s background,

barriers, strengths and weaknesses, to assess progress as opposed to product. An

ideal teacher will implement differentiated learning to include learners who need

remediation as well as enrichment programs. A famous quote states, ““Everyone is a

genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life

believing that it is stupid.” (this quote was incorrectly attributed to Albert Einstein, but

the real author is unknown.) (Pruitt, 2017). This idea is relevant here because it

means that every person is different and judging every learner by the same criteria

makes those that do not excel feel inadequate, when in fact, their strengths lie

elsewhere. At Maryvale, teachers offer extra lessons after school to aid learners who

are struggling with the content, and in those lessons, they try to teach in other styles

to help learners grasp the information.

Engages in constant communication and feedback

An ideal teacher does not stop at transferring content and assessing the learner’s

absorption of it. She communicates consistently with learners, offering feedback. This