Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, November 21, 1994 TAG: 9411210087
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
When a Richmond educator and writer wanted to know what makes a good teacher, she went to the people she thought knew best: children.
According to kids, a good teacher:
Mixes math, reading, music and science together.
Is never too tired or too busy.
Makes things that happened a long time ago interesting and not boring.
Knows when you're having a bad day.
Laughs when things are funny and doesn't laugh when things aren't funny.
Carolyn Oliver interviewed second- and third-graders, teachers and parents for her book, "A Good Teacher," which has become a guidebook for a back-to-basics program for better communication between children and teachers in elementary school.
The goal is simple: to get children to tell what they think makes a good teacher and to give teachers insight into the educational process through the eyes of a child. It is designed to strengthen the bond between teachers and students.
The illustrated book was originally written as a gift for teachers, but it has become the focal point for an interactive classroom project, "The 3Rs - Reading, Writing and Relating."
Oliver, a former college and high school teacher, relationships between students and teachers need to improve as technology and computers reshape education.
"With all of the new computer-based programs, you can never replace the student-teacher relationship," she said. "There is a need for warm and positive attitudes."
The program can also help shy children express their feelings, particularly about their teachers. They can identify with other perceptions, such as a good teacher:
Knows when I'm embarrassed.
Helps us talk about stuff that worries us.
Laughs at my knock-knock jokes.
Is nice to all the kids in school.
Gives us all good hugs.
Oliver said the book is intended to help children understand their feelings about teachers and their influence. It reveals their appreciation of and wisdom about teachers and improves children's relationships with them.
Using the book as a model, Oliver has developed an interactive, classroom project that enables students in any school to write and illustrate their own book about their teachers. It can be completed within a few hours.
Oliver, who is president and founder of Good Teacher publishing company, said the project involves a parent or another volunteer who reads the book to the class
After the teachers leave the room, the students write letters and draw pictures for them. The students then place the writing and drawing in a folder that becomes a compendium of the students' feelings about their teachers.
The classroom project encourages students to think about teaching and learning, involves them in reading and writing, and assures very personal links between teachers and their students.
The project has received a good reaction from educators, but it is still in its early stages and has been tried in only a few states.
During the past school year, the classroom project was piloted in schools with 3,100 students in Virginia, Florida and Indiana in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Some school divisions in the Richmond area have used the program, Oliver said, but none in Western Virginia. She hopes to get some schools in the Lynchburg and Roanoke areas to participate.
"We have not had the time to work in many areas where we want to be," she said.
School principals who have participated in the project said they can't decide who learns the most from the experience.
"It's hard to determine who gained the most from this touching and positive experience: the students, parents or teachers," said Gale Cushing, principal of Harrowgate Elementary School in Chester.
Oliver said the cost is relatively low and is sometimes covered by businesses or other companies that have partnerships with schools.
Recently, two banks paid the cost for two elementary schools in Henrico County. The cost for the two schools was less than $500, she said.
Oliver said she hopes the classroom projects can be expanded nationally.
"We have pockets where we can provide the program, but we hope to reach a larger audience of parents and educators."
If that happens, the children's words will be heard elsewhere...
A good teacher:
Wants us all to have fun in the gym.
Loves my presents.
Wants us all to have our dream.
by CNB