Recently Lillian, a good friend of mine who is studying at a Christian college to become a teacher, asked to interview me for one of her teaching assignments. I found her questions very challenging as they helped me to formulate some teaching facts not only for her assignment but also for my own homeschool environment. I thought you also may be blessed by Lillian’s work so I obtained her permission to present the interview here.
From the Desk of Lillian:
How did you prepare to become a teacher?
I have a degree in economics and business and have taught management skills in a business environment for a number of years. This gave me plenty of teaching practice however, teaching adults and children is vastly different. In preparing to teach children, I have done some in depth research and talked to experienced homeschool teachers. But honestly, the only thing you really need to prepare for teaching your children is to walk with God and pray that God would make you ready to be mother, and therefore a teacher.
Describe an attitude that effective teachers possess.
To start with, a good teacher must love God, love the children, be patient, flexible, and open to grow in professional skills and as a person. You have to love the children more then you love yourself because the learning of the child is more important than your own preferences. Also, as you walk with God, your attitude works a greater glory for God.
What is the major difference between an expert teacher and a novice teacher and how can a novice teacher become an expert?
The difference between an expert and novice teacher in one word is “experience.” An expert teacher has grown with the children, grown with every lesson he/she has taught. Becoming an expert teacher comes from reviewing what you have done, finding how you can do it better, and then applying it to your next lessons. And of course, the more experienced you are, the less time your preparation takes, and you find yourself more flexible to adjust in class as needed.
On the other hand, new teachers often hold more enthusiasm which makes the work more exciting, thus making the journey to experience more enjoyable.
How are you held accountable for effectively teaching your students?
First of all, God makes you accountable to doing your best. But also your students and your conscience, your own responsibility to your students, bring great accountability. Last, but not least, there is the knowledge that what you do as their teacher is adding to your student’s chances of success in life.
How do standards and assessments impact your teaching?
Standards and assessments are a reminder of student success in the here and now. You do your research to find out what is the appropriate standard for your student’s level and then go forward. You compare different methods to reach the standards day to day, but also in preparation for assessment tests.
More importantly, in addition to the individual subject standards, I have a standard in which I hold myself to as a mother and teacher, and that is the Word of God. In holding myself accountable to that standard, I am able to help my students achieve their very best not only in school but also in life.
What is the most important thing a teacher should prioritize to understand a student’s difficulty in fully comprehending school work?
The teacher always has to prioritize the child. It is not the books, the standards, or the curriculum; the priority is the child. Observing, communicating with the child, and listening to the child is key. But also you do your research and modify your teaching methods in order to help the child. The more experience in teaching you possess, the better you can assess the child’s difficulties. Then you only have to work selflessly to help your student.
What is the most effective way to deal with a difficult or defiant student?
The key here is to find out why the student has difficulty or is defiant. Is it because they need attention? Are they hungry? Bored? Do they not understand the work? You cannot effectively deal with the difficulty unless you know the root. If the child needs attention, you give them attention, etc. But you have to find out why. In time your experience kicks in, and you began to notice the signs to find the root cause and how to deal effectively with the particular situation.
What would you say is the best part of being a teacher?
It is difficult to say, what the best part of teaching is; I love it all. But to name at least a few specifics, the best part is to plant the seed in the hearts and minds of children for their success and seeing the growth in them, both educationally and personally. Also, seeing the growth in yourself, and watching yourself gain more patience as well as finding even better curricula and methodologies.
Being a teacher is the best job you can ever have. Not everyone can be a public school teacher, but every parent can be a homeschool teacher. The reason it is the best job is because you can pass on whatever knowledge and love you possess to the children. And the more of God you have in you, the more you pass His love to them.
Should teachers in schools have greater freedom to select curriculum or should they use government appointed curriculum?
Teachers should definitely have the right to select their own curriculum. A teacher knows his/her students and his/her teaching style better than anyone else. There should be a standard to which students must attain (for example, in first grade math the child should learn basic adding and subtracting, etc.) but the teacher should be able to select what he/she is comfortable teaching from and how he/she knows his/her students will actually learn.
Are you in favor of greater parent involvement in a child’s education?
Absolutely! Parents are the most influential people in a child’s life. The parent has the ultimate responsibly for the child, which is given to them by God, so they have to be involved.
Reflection of the Interviewer:
What are the two most influential pieces of advice provided to you in the interview?
In performing this interview I was again struck with a teacher’s need for selflessness. In one of the question, Mrs. Davis responded on how she loves the beauty of watching the children grow and mature. This is something that I was aware of, but it was a beautiful reminder to me on how God can use each and every one of us to bring glory to Him in our actions but also from the lives of those that we touch.
The other question that I greatly appreciated her response to was in the question of accountability. While teachers are held accountable by their superiors, we have to remember that God’s standard is higher and more beautiful than any other thought or idea held by man.
