Great Teachers on California EdChat

Sunday nights at 8:00 PM (PT), California EdChat (#caedchat) is my favorite place to be online. Educators from all over our state, along with a few dropping in from elsewhere, take up all sorts of topics relating to teaching. I think in the past several months I’ve probably participated about half the time, but missed the chat last night. Too bad, because it was a topic that seemed quite appropriate for our network, Accomplished California Teachers. The discussion for the evening focused on what separates a good teacher from a great teacher. I would find it challenging to simply label myself or others “good” or “great” – but I do think one of the greatest traits  teachers can have is the ability to be honest with themselves about ways in which they are both “great” and… less than that.

On those occasions when I miss the live interaction of #caedchat, I always go back to review what I missed and look for new and interesting people to follow on Twitter. Since this topic was so interesting and important, I decided to pick out ten excellent tweets to share. I encourage you to add your own thoughts about what makes a great teacher, or perhaps responses to specific tweets below. (If you see a tweet that starts off A1, A2, A3, etc., that means it’s an answer to a specific question from the moderator, with questions identified in sequence, Q1, Q2, Q3, etc.). And note – the retweet, reply, and Follow buttons are all functional!

A2: Qualities of great teachers I had are being kind, patient, and calm. #caedchat

— Joe Williams (@jswilliams) December 16, 2013

A2: Mrs. Maloney, my 5th gr T believed in me,even when I didnt get it 20xs. Shes why Im a teacher I need to find her and tell her #caedchat

— Lisa Highfill (@lhighfill) December 16, 2013

A3. Not anyone can be an effective teacher. You need to have a passion for people and a love for growing knowledge! #caedchat — Chark (@Charngirlz) December 16, 2013

A4: Good teachers teach students. Great teachers are students. #CAedchat — Walt Hebern, NBCT (@whebern) December 16, 2013

A4: Good teachers are nice to their students GREAT teachers make their students feel LOVED #caedchat — Mr. Theriault (@davidtedu) December 16, 2013

Engaging, inspiring, organized, creative, connects with ALL students, cares, passionate, communicates well #caedchat — Todd Feinberg (@PrincipalUMS) December 16, 2013

A7 as collaborators, always sharing ideas, as a source of info, Ts observe teaching #caedchat — Julieanne Harmatz (@jarhartz) December 16, 2013

A8 Admins can help Ts by supporting innovative Ts. Also knowing that with innovation comes failure. #caedchat

— Jo-Ann Fox (@AppEducationFox) December 16, 2013

A8: Develop talent on site — site led PDs, teachers coaching each other, and encourage (allow) creativity! #caedchat

— Danielle Lemke (@daniellemlemke) December 16, 2013

A9 Reflect ALLLL the time with your students. Over and over and over again. #CAEdChat

— Tim Bedley (@tbed63) December 16, 2013

To keep up to date about this chat, follow @CAEdChat. You are also invited to follow me on Twitter – @CohenD, and follow Accomplished California Teachers as well – @AcmpCA_Teachers.