What makes a good teacher great? | Azul Terronez | TEDxSantoDomingo

The speaker shares their obsession with the question of what makes a good teacher great. They have collected 26,000 responses from students in various schools and are perplexed by the answer. Schools are often afraid to ask students for their opinions.

The speaker shares profound insights learned from students, emphasizing the importance of listening to students to understand their perspectives. Students value teachers who are willing to receive gifts from them, indicating trust and goodness.

Students have their own way of communicating and expressing their needs. They prefer teachers who remain calm, understand their hidden meanings, and strive to connect with them on a deeper level. The speaker highlights the importance of decoding student language and thoughts.

Significant patterns emerge from students' responses about good teaching. Students expect teachers to love teaching and learning, emphasizing the need for teachers to demonstrate learning alongside teaching. The speaker challenges the traditional role of teachers as content experts and encourages a more interactive learning approach.

The concept of a great teacher extends beyond traditional classroom teaching. Students appreciate teachers who understand their lives outside school and can relate to their struggles. The speaker recounts a personal experience with a challenging student named Yvette to highlight the importance of listening and understanding students' challenges.

Students value teachers who are creative, humble, and willing to take risks. The speaker shares a story where singing in class led to a positive response from students, emphasizing the need for teachers to go beyond conventional methods and connect with students on a personal level.