Overview
The Perfect Teacher is a practical book for teachers of all levels of experience, which deals with the major issues of the profession, such as discipline, time management and teaching style, by showing teachers how other people see them. Schools are busy places, but spending most of the day in the company of 30+ children can still feel rather lonely. There is little time for teachers to make meaningful contact with other adults, to talk about how they can help one another and share ideas. And when these opportunities do arise, they are usually in formal circumstances: inspections, observations, appraisals and training days.
As a result, it can be difficult for teachers to develop a fair view of their own practice. Many are overly self-critical, because they rarely get to see that they are not the only ones who struggle with certain students or have difficulties keeping up with the workload. Some find it tough, because they become too insular - they get stuck in the same routines, or feel that they have run out of ideas. Others become demoralised - they feel over criticised, undervalued and very misunderstood.
The Perfect Teacher intends to light up the shadows of the classroom: to provide a multi-faceted insight into what makes a good teacher, taking the perspectives of different education related professionals as its starting point. It acts as a critical friend, helping teachers to reflect on their strengths whilst offering a range of viewpoints that may throw up new and fresh solutions to old problems.
The book provides advice from classroom teachers (primary and secondary), parents, pupils, headmasters, senior teachers, social workers, special educational needs co-ordinators, support staff, teacher trainers, and school governors, which will provide readers with a broad and balanced profile of the ‘perfect' teacher.