Being a good teacher takes hard work

After reading your latest article on the qualities of good teachers ("What's the Recipe for Good Teaching?" 6/26/08), it seems that the article and individuals quoted missed a key characteristic of successful new teachers: the ability to make changes in their performance.

No matter how successful a freshly minted teacher-education graduate has been in past endeavors, the first year of being a full-time teacher presents a new set of challenges. Student teaching - having responsibility for students under the constant guidance of a veteran educator - is completely different from being the sole leader of a classroom. It has been my experience that a first-year teacher's success comes from self-reflection, collaboration and being able to admit mistakes and acquire the skills necessary to increase student achievement. Improving as a teacher is different than improving in other fields. It is not enough to research and read articles on good teaching - it is essential that a new educator be able to acquire the skills of teaching and implement them efficiently.

It seems possible that a candidate's high college GPA could be misleading, especially if the candidate did not have to work particularly hard for that GPA. Or, the high GPA can be a reflection on the candidate's ability to persist in challenging situations. In this vein, the quoted principals got it right. To truly see if someone will excel as a teacher, the story behind the GPA can be more important than the number itself. What seemed to be missing from their comments, however, was their assessment of a candidate's willingness and ability to improve.

Aya Barnea

Highland Park