A ‘teacher’ is a person who delivers an educational program, assesses student participation in an

educational program, and/or administers or provides consistent and substantial leadership to an

educational program.

The teaching must be in a school or in another setting delivering an educational program

prescribed under the Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act 2005. This requires the
educational program to be based on a syllabus or kindergarten guideline approved or accredited
by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA).

This means for example:

 teaching in a recognised school in in Australia

 teaching the QCAA Kindergarten Learning Guideline or C&K Building Waterfalls
kindergarten guideline with the Pre-Prep year (i.e. with 3½ to 4 ½ year old students)
 working as a non-teaching Principal
 working as an advisory teacher (time spent in school only).

For renewal of registration purposes see also Recency of practice.

Teachers As Role Models

A role model is a person who inspires and encourages us to strive for greatness, live to our fullest
potential and see the best in ourselves. A role model is someone we admire and someone we
aspire to be like. We learn through them, through their commitment to excellence and through
their ability to make us realize our own personal growth. We look to them for advice and
guidance.

A role model can be anybody: a parent, a sibling, a friend but some of our most influential and
life-changing role models are teachers.

“When the student is ready, the teacher appears.” -- Marlene Canter, My Teacher My Hero

Teachers follow students through each pivotal stage of development. At six to eight hours a day,
five days a week, you as a teacher are poised to become one of the most influential people in
your students’ life. After their parents, children will first learn from you, their elementary school
teacher. Then, as a middle school teacher, you will guide students through yet another important
transition: adolescence. As children become young adults, learning throughout middle school
and into high school, you will answer their questions, listen to their problems and teach them
about this new phase of their lives. You not only watch your students grow you help them grow.

“We think of teacher-heroes that taught us the academics but we don’t often think of those
teachers that taught us life’s lessons.” -- Maria Wale, My Teacher My Hero

Much of what students learn from their greatest teachers is not detailed on a syllabus. Teachers
who help us grow as people are responsible for imparting some of life’s most important lessons.
During their initial school years, students encounter, perhaps for the first time, other children of
the same age and begin to form some of their first friendships. As a teacher, you will show your
students how to become independent and form their own relationships, you will carefully guide
them and intervene when necessary. School is as much a place of social learning as academic
learning, and this is true, not only in our early years of education, but all the way through
college. Though a teacher’s influence on the social sphere of school lessens as students mature,
those early lessons still have an effect on how they will interact with others in the future.

Teachers are founts of experience. They have already been where their students are going,
undergone what they will go through and are in a position to pass along lessons, not only
regarding subject matter, but lessons on life.

Motivating Students
One of the most difficult aspects of becoming a teacher is learning how to motivate your
students. It is also one of the most important. Students who are not motivated will not learn
effectively. They won’t retain information, they won’t participate and some of them may even
become disruptive. A student may be unmotivated for a variety of reasons: They may feel that
they have no interest in the subject, find the teacher’s methods un-engaging or be distracted by
external forces. It may even come to light that a student who appeared unmotivated actually has
difficulty learning and is need of special attention.

While motivating students can be a difficult task, the rewards are more than worth it. Motivated
students are more excited to learn and participate. Simply put: Teaching a class full of motivated
students is enjoyable for teacher and student alike. Some students are self-motivated, with a
natural love of learning. But even with the students who do not have this natural drive, a great
teacher can make learning fun and inspire them to reach their full potential.

Here are five effective ways to get your students excited about learning:

1. Encourage Students

Students look to teachers for approval and positive reinforcement, and are more likely to be
enthusiastic about learning if they feel their work is recognized and valued. You should
encourage open communication and free thinking with your students to make them feel
important. Be enthusiastic. Praise your students often. Recognize them for their contributions. If
your classroom is a friendly place where students feel heard and respected, they will be more
eager to learn. A “good job” or “nice work” can go a long way.

2. Get Them Involved

One way to encourage students and teach them responsibility is to get them involved in the classroom.
Make participating fun by giving each student a job to do. Give students the responsibility of tidying up
or decorating the classroom. Assign a student to erase the blackboard or pass out materials. If you are
going over a reading in class, ask students to take turns reading sections out loud. Make students work
in groups and assign each a task or role. Giving students a sense of ownership allows them to feel
accomplished and encourages active participation in class.

3. Offer Incentives
Setting expectations and making reasonable demands encourages students to participate, but
sometimes students need an extra push in the right direction. Offering students small incentives makes
learning fun and motivates students to push themselves. Incentives can range from small to large giving
a special privilege to an exemplary student, to a class pizza party if the average test score rises. Rewards
give students a sense of accomplishment and encourage them to work with a goal in mind.

4. Get Creative

Avoid monotony by changing around the structure of your class. Teach through games and
discussions instead of lectures, encourage students to debate and enrich the subject matter with
visual aids, like colorful charts, diagrams and videos. You can even show a movie that
effectively illustrates a topic or theme. Your physical classroom should never be boring: use
posters, models, student projects and seasonal themes to decorate your classroom, and create a
warm, stimulating environment.

5. Draw Connections to Real Life

“When will I ever need this?” This question, too often heard in the classroom, indicates that a student is
not engaged. If a student does not believe that what they’re learning is important, they won’t want to
learn, so it’s important to demonstrate how the subject relates to them. If you’re teaching algebra, take
some time to research how it is utilized practically for example, in engineering and share your findings
with your students. Really amaze them by telling them that they may use it in their career. Showing
them that a subject is used everyday by “real” people gives it new importance. They may never be
excited about algebra but if they see how it applies to them, they may be motivated to learn attentively.

Teachers Change Lives

It is not an exaggeration to say that a great teacher can change a student’s life. There are an
endless amount of stories that attest to the benefits of a strong relationship between an educator
and pupil.

As some of the most influential role models for developing students, teachers are responsible for
more than just academic enrichment. If you want to be a great educator, you must connect with
your pupils and reach them on multiple levels, because the best teachers are committed to their
students’ well-being both inside and outside the classroom. By forging strong relationships,
educators are able to affect virtually every aspect of their students’ lives, teaching them the
important life lessons that will help them succeed beyond term papers and standardized tests.

It is not always easy to change a student’s life, which is why it takes a great teacher to do so. Some just
need an extra push like the student whose math grade is just a few points shy from the A that will give
them a 4.0 GPA; others may be going through something troubling in their personal lives and need
someone to talk to. Whatever the student needs to help them excel, a life-changing teacher will be
there for them.

While you will spend your entire career learning the different ways you can change your
students’ lives, here are three aspects that are directly affected by great teachers:
1. Education

A great teacher makes learning fun, as stimulating, engaging lessons are pivotal to a student’s
academic success. Some students who are more prone to misbehavior, truancy or disengagement
are more dependent on an engaging teacher. Making your classroom an exciting environment for
learning will hold the students’ fascination, and students learn best when they are both
challenged and interested. It’s part of motivating students, which may not be easy, but which will
benefit students immeasurably in the long run.

2. Inspiration

Have you ever had a teacher who inspired you to work harder or pursue a particular goal? Were
you inspired to become an educator by one of your own great teachers?

Inspiring students is integral to ensuring their success and encouraging them to fulfil their
potential. Students who are inspired by their teachers can accomplish amazing things, and that
motivation almost always stays with them. Inspiration can also take many forms, from helping a
pupil through the academic year and their short-term goals, to guiding them towards their future
career. Years after graduation, many working professionals will still cite a particular teacher as
the one who fostered their love of what they currently do and attribute their accomplishments to
that educator.

3. Guidance

Teachers can also be a trusted source of advice for students weighing important life decisions.
Educators can help their pupils pursue higher education, explore career opportunities and
compete in events they might otherwise have not thought themselves able to. Students often look
to their teachers as mentors with experience and knowledge, and, as an educator, you will almost
definitely be asked for advice at some point during your career.

Did you know that one in four students drops out of school or that every nine seconds, another student
drops out? Dropping out is a decision that students won’t likely come to you about, but an adept
teacher can notice the indications that a student is struggling and intervene before it’s too late. Aside
from educating them on the hard facts about dropping out, teachers can also help assess the problem
and figure out an alternative. In such situations, teachers undoubtedly have the ability to change the
lives of students.

Teachers Care
“When I was in second grade I had a kidney disease, and she came to my home every day and
home schooled me.” -- Eleanor Powers

You may decide to become a teacher because you care about education and the students you’ll be
working with. You know the lasting impact a great teacher can have on a student perhaps having
even experienced it yourself and you want to make a positive impact on someone else. You want
to be a role model. To commit yourself to teaching means you care about education, but once
you actually become a teacher, that vague concept becomes more defined: It becomes real,
specific and tangible. Once you become a teacher, you care, not just about education, but about
your students’ education.

Great teachers care about their students. They want them to succeed and are committed to
helping them achieve their goals. Moreover, teachers care about their students’ happiness, well-
being and life beyond the classroom.

“She was clearly interested in every child. She visited our homes, met our parents, and assisted
us in our homework and studies.”- Daniel K Inouye

Investing yourself in your students creates a positive atmosphere in the classroom that enhances
your relationship with students and makes them feel important. A student is far more responsive
to a teacher who cares, and is therefore more likely to learn and engage. Connecting with your
students establishes trust, which is important to the students’ learning because it makes them
comfortable enough to participate, ask for help when needed, and pay closer attention to advice
and encouragement. Also, students feel better about themselves if they feel that a teacher has
taken a genuine interest in them; they are motivated, and stronger self-assurance can make it
easier for the student to challenge themselves academically. Especially with younger students,
away from their parents and overwhelmed by the commotion of the classroom, a caring teacher
is comforting and helps make the transition easier.

“Every student would get a birthday card for their birthday...that small gesture meant so much to
us.” -- Valerie Penales
A great teacher does not make it a secret that they care. Go the extra mile. Motivating students
by encouraging them, rewarding them and getting them involved shows your students that their
teacher is vested in their education. Do the best job you can to teach your students and they will
notice. Meet with parents during conferences and school functions. Send notes home about
student performance. Ask about how things are outside the classroom. Commemorate their
birthdays in a small, special way. Make a student feel as if their life and not just their homework,
grades and attendance is of interest to you.
“They [teachers] make you feel that you were so important in their lives it makes everything
worthwhile.” -- Mr. Jacobowitz

In the New York Times article, “On Facebook, Telling Teachers How Much They Mean,”
Jaqueline Ancess, a researcher at Columbia University’s Teachers College, says “the most
powerful factor in transforming students is a relationship with a caring teacher who a kid feels
particularly connected to.” It is the teachers who make such an impact that students seek out
many years later, and reconnecting with your students can be a highly rewarding experience. Not
only does it give you the chance to see where your students ended up, it also gives you the
chance to hear their gratitude and to truly know the kind of impact you had on them.
Whether it’s via Facebook, emails or phone calls, students are looking to reconnect with the
teachers who show that they care, because it’s these teachers who are likely to make the longest
lasting impression and have the most positive impact on their students.

My Teacher, My Hero
When you think of the type of teacher you'd like to be, who comes to mind? The math teacher
that helped you conquer fractions? The English teacher who wrote great comments on your
stories? The teacher that helped you discover a new sport, hobby, talent--or maybe even nudged
you down your current career path?

Those are the teachers we're celebrating through our YouTube channel, My Teacher, My Hero.

Together, we're paying homage: to the teachers that have played such an integral part in shaping
our lives, and to their importance in shaping the next generation of educators.

But don't take our word for it -- listen to the stories of many successful people across the country.

experiences

with mentors

3
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the exciting experience of being a
Mentor Teacher
! The Southern Utah University
College of Education sincerely appreciates your willingness to supervise our
Student Teacher
s.
The information and suggestions which follow will help you as a
Mentor Teacher
.
Mentor
Teacher
s are encouraged to suggest addi
tions, revisions, and deletions to the information
presented in this handbook. Please send these to
the Field Placement Office.
Student Teaching is the culmination of the Teacher Education Department
programs. The
primary goal of the student teaching ex
perience is to provide the Student Teacher with the
opportunity of applying effective teaching practices and behaviors under the
guidance of an
experienced and qualified Mentor Teacher and Teacher Education
Supervisor.
The Mentor Teacher is perhaps the mo
st influential person in the Student Teacher’s student
teaching experience. Research indicates that the Mentor Teacher can be the
most important
factor in determining a Student Teacher’s future success as a classroom
teacher. The attitudes,
teaching styl
es, sense of teamwork, and positive feedback that Mentor Teachers exhibit
during
the student teaching are among the essential elements of a successful student
teaching
experience.
Being a successful Mentor Teacher takes time, effort, and skill. It is an
extremely imp o rtant
responsibility, one which cannot be fulfilled by turning a Student Teacher
loose to “sink or
swim.” It is the wish of the university and cooperating school districts that
you are present with
the Student Teacher as much as possible so
you can provide regular feedback to help the Student
Teacher be effective in the classroom. This will also give you the opportunity
to provide one
-
on
-
one assistance to the students in your classroom.

Integrated Lesson Plan