What I think a teacher should do is . . . she really needs to know her students and understand their full capabilities and what they’re . . . what they can do. I think teachers should give students challenges, depending on the student itself. Like of course they’re gonna be teaching the lesson to the whole class, but to take certain time with other students that need the help, or with other students that don’t need the help. Like challenge them more, or give the people that need the help more work so they can understand it better. Or just like reevaluate with them, just like . . . try to reinterpret the lesson, or something like that. – Kenneth, 17

In this third installment of our “Just Listen” series of one-minute video clips, high school students from NYC iSchool share reflections on what makes a good teacher. We hope you’ll pass the clips on to others through the networks you use, as well as using them to spark thoughtful conversations in your own setting. To view these video clips full screen, click on the icon with four arrows in the lower right corner of the frame. Transcripts appear at the bottom of this page, followed by links to other parts of this growing collection.

NOTE: Over 200 of these Just Listen clips appear on the Just Listen channel on YouTube. Look on the right-hand side of the screen for playlists dedicated to specific themes: The Teacher-Student Relationship, Becoming Adult, Just-Right Learning Challenges, and many more. (If you want to get a new playlist by email once a week, click here and our Fires in the Mind blog will make that happen!)

TRANSCRIPTS

Willing to teach us no matter what
 I see like a caring person that’s willing to teach us and, like, they actually want us to learn, and they’re willing to teach us no matter what. Even if you don’t understand the concept, they’ll still teach it to you in a way you understand. So they break it down. So that way you don’t look at the teacher like, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” It’s like, “I get it. Thank you.” ­– Amanda, 18

Learning from students
What I see when I look at my teachers, I see people who are . . . well, for most of them, because I know I’ve some teachers who, you know, shouldn’t have been teachers! [laughs] But when I see my teachers, I see people who are dedicated to their job, who I think . . . the way that they help get through to us is by learning from us. Like I feel like our teachers, even though they give so much to us every single day, you know, week in and week out, you know, the good, the bad [laughs], and the ugly, I think they definitely take a lot away from us as well. And I think, you know, the teachers who, you know, can honestly say that, “Yeah, you know, my students this and my students that—you know, they may be silly or sometimes they may not always do their work [laughs], but I mean . . . you know, I get a lot from them.” ­– Maranda, 16

Raising your hand
A teacher can either motivate you to get your work done, or they can, to an extent they could hold you back just from little things, from, like, just not . . . just not being picked on in class when you have your hand raised. Like if you feel like you have the answer and like nobody else is raising their hand, and the teacher, like, sees you and obviously picks somebody else . . . like when a teacher does that to me, that kinda hurts a little bit. But it’s like, “Ah. Whatever. Let that person maybe didn’t know it or whatever.” – Elijah, 17

Your ideas turn out better
They’ll have activities and they’ll take part in it. Like they’ll have group activities in different tables, maybe like the teacher will come around and come talk to you about it. They don’t just like let you work in your group. Like they’ll be a part of the group, and then they’ll drift off, and it’s pretty cool. Like you don’t have a group activity and it’s just you and a student. Like he’ll come in your group and he’ll help you out, talk about it, make your mind think more so that your ideas and your group . . . so like your ideas as a whole—it turns out way better. – Arielle, 16

Differentiating instruction
What I think a teacher should do is . . . she really needs to know her students and understand their full capabilities and what they’re . . . what they can do. I think teachers should give students challenges, depending on the student itself. Like of course they’re gonna be teaching the lesson to the whole class, but to take certain time with other students that need the help, or with other students that don’t need the help. Like challenge them more, or give the people that need the help more work so they can understand it better. Or just like reevaluate with them, just like . . . try to reinterpret the lesson, or something like that. – Kenneth, 17

Nurturing potential
When my teachers look at me, I think they see potential. They see an individual that’s actually grasping a new identity. I’m still growing right now, so I feel like I’m being nurtured in high school. And then as I develop more and more, I’m grasping a new identity because I’m gonna . . . I’m gonna be seen as a doctor or a lawyer or somebody. I’m gonna have . . . and that’s gonna be my affiliation. So I feel like teachers see that in me. They see the potential that I’m gonna have later on, and the potential that I have right now.
– Farhan, 16

Click on the links below to read other monthly JustListen postings.

INTRODUCTION | HOW SCHOOLS HELP KIDS BECOME ADULT | THE TEACHER-STUDENT RELATIONSHIP | WHAT MAKES A GOOD TEACHER | STUDENT SELF-ASSESSMENT AND REFLECTION | ANYTIME, ANYWHERE LEARNING

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