by Mary P Ivy

Created on: January 28, 2010

How a Great Teacher Makes a Difference in a Student’s Life

Aside from parents, no one has more influence on a child’s life than a teacher. Younger children are especially open to the influence of a teacher but many teenagers, too, respond to the right words from the right person at a crucial moment. It is a great privilege and an awesome responsibility all teachers have and it can be almost overwhelming to realize the power even the most casual remark has on a student.

Anyone who has spent even a few years with school children will quickly realize the power of their words. Teachers’ comments can send a child soaring and give them confidence and hope they may not have ever had. Sincere words of encouragement can be a lifeline for a student who is sinking into self-doubt. A sincere and specific reply to a student's journal or essay becomes indelible on that child’s soul.

I shy away from the phrase “great teacher” but feel more comfortable discussing the influence of compassionate, sensitive and astute teachers.

Compassionate and sensitive teachers connect with students in a profound way as young people begin to explore issues or struggle to survive emotionally, students who long for a sense of belonging and acceptance, who are confused by the world. A sensitive teacher will offer relevant anecdotes of others who have struggled with similar issues and found a way through to become independent and confident adults. These teachers do not judge a child’s struggle or step in to ‘fix’ a child but offer a sympathetic ear and respond with ideas to help the student accept and move on in a productive way.

There are also students who struggle academically and doubt their ability to learn, the result of negative comments from other adults. These teachers seize upon a moment of success to praise without restraint when an unsuccessful student makes progress. 

Astute teachers see a student with great intellectual potential that has not been nurtured by the educational system. For that student, a “great” teacher is one who affirms the child’s insights and thought processes and encourages independent thought. A great math teacher understands when a child arrives at an answer in an unusual way or responds to an alternative explanation and capitalizes on that unique strength.

Astute teachers also realize a special talent or strength in a student that the student may have gone unnoticed. Amazingly,

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