Quote From: mustbecrazyIt wouldn't be fair to mention the worst teachers without mentioning some of the best teachers...
My 5th grade teacher (she was also my 4th grade teacher) was the best I ever had. During 5th grade, one of my older brothers was killed in a snow skiing accident...she was there for me to get me through it...and the kids told me that she would be "mean"...she was strict, but in a good way...she got me to do my best...and all of the kids...
Our youngest son's 3rd grade teacher (who was also our middle son's 1st grade teacher) is so wonderful...she makes the kids really want to learn...she has them make a list of what they already know (collective as a class) about a subject, and then a list of what they want to learn...and then the lessons include the things that they want to know...along with the curiculum out of the book...I think that is a really good way to teach...we love her...
Our youngest son just finished 4th grade, and his 4th grade teacher is on the list of the best too...she retired at the end of the school year, and she gave our son a bunch of science experiment books, and a field microscope (she was cleaning out her inventory)...she had drawings where the kids could put their name in a bowl for the items that they wanted...she drew the names, and the kid got the item...she really encouraged our son to want to learn more than what they were learning in class...
My 4th grade teacher was the best -- I don't know this for certain, but the rumor was that the more "gifted" students were put in her class. There was no official "gifted" track at that place and time.
That year, we put on a science fair, put out a literary magazine (I think Mother may even still have a copy of it!), and nearly put on a play (it had to be scrapped, though, when we ran short of rehearsal time. =( ).
For my daughter, I'd have to put it at a tie between her 4th & 5th grade reading/language arts teachers. They were both good at helping Anne get through her losses, first of my MIL (fall of 4th grade), and then my dad (fall 5th grade).
Becky, I like the way your son's 4th grade teacher handled the disposal of surplus!
Prof
