Let’s look at just one teacher to see the full power of good instruction. As a high school English instructor, Sean Connors took a position in the poorest, lowest-achieving high school in his community, where writing scores were the lowest in town and well below the state average. I watched him teach. He was clear, organized, and effective. But more to the point, he did nothing unusual-nothing any teacher couldn’t do or hasn’t already learned. He was clear about which writing standards he expected students to learn on any particular day. He showed them samples of the kind of work he expected, and having students analyze and discuss the samples. He explained and modeled each specific skill-with students involvement-on his overhead projector. He had students practice the new skills briefly in pairs, then individually while he circulated. He called on students randomly to share, so he could see if they were learning. Some educators call this a” check for understanding.” When Connors felt that students were ready, he assessed how well they have learned a new skill. There’s nothing exotic, in this approach. This simple lesson structure could be effectively repeated or varied from when an endless number of standards, eventually saving precious preparation time.

Sadly, Connors achievement wasn’t noted or celebrated at the district or state level. Although hundreds of administrators expended thousands of hours and well intended activities at school year, no one from the district or state education department ever so much is made a five-minute phone call to congratulate Connors or to find out how he had achieved the largest writing gains in the state. No one asked or considered,” what can we learn from him? Can he do a presentation for other teachers?” This is what Gordon means by” the irrelevance of achievement.” Connors left the district a year later.

A Model Teacher

2 thoughts on “A Model Teacher

  • June 7, 2017 at 5:35 am
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    Tansi, I began reading and expected to read a…, ‘How to be the best teacher in the universe,’ blog. Unfortunately, there was no recipe for the perfect teacher to be read. The blog did, however, write of ‘one’ of the best teachers in the universe. Mr. Sean Connors, who instinctively, with passion, and not flamboyantly, used his skill and artistry, to improve his students’ lives. Now that is powerful!! There are so many Mr. Connors in the Prince Albert Grand Council schools and in all schools for that matter. Teachers, who passionately, diligently, and effectively empower students every day because it is just. No, golden globes, or five-star get-a-ways, or elaborate electronic gadgets, or yes, even a pay increase, will equal the elation felt by knowing your invested energy and effort helped in the success of a grade 12 graduate.
    It is depressing that these schools also have teachers who receive countless numbers of workshops, resources, time to plan, and still cannot accomplish half of the stuff the Mr. Connors of the universe do.
    Maybe I am off topic, haha. I am unfamiliar with, Gordon, and the ‘irrelevance of achievement.’

    Blogblog

    Reply
    • July 20, 2017 at 10:20 pm
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      Hi, Shawn. It is really good to hear from you and I appreciate your feedback. I have just started blogging and I am trying out new methods of engagement for educators. Congratulations for being the first to respond to my blog page. I was prompted by my instructor to begin dialogue with teachers, administrators through various programs. I would like to begin a magazine and/or profile of teachers in our world who have exceeded and made some great accomplishments. Too many times, we hear and read about the ‘other’ territories where teachers have made change. I know for a fact that there are some strong educators like yourself that have made and continue to make a difference. Your mom is also a good example and I enjoy listening to her at various meetings. Anyways, I will get back to my blog in the fall and I am going to try Edutopia as another forum. I also made my first podcast so I’m really green. Good to know someone is reading the info.

      Reply

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