A Night of Learning in Honor of Beth Huppin winning the Covenant Award
Debbie Butler
October 9, 2010
What makes a good teacher? I dedicate this d’var Torah to my inspiration, Beth Huppin.
What makes a good teacher? Much has been written on the subject. I would like to share a few of my
own observations, as well as a few observations of others.
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Educate a child according to his way. (Proverbs 22:6)…quite an insightful message for something
written so long ago.
Educate a child according to her way. What does this mean?
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I think it means that a good teacher sees a class of individuals.
A good teacher recognizes that one class is comprised of many different learning styles.
In order for each student to succeed, a good teacher meets the variety of needs of the students
set before her.
A good teacher knows her students and loves them.
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Where does it all begin?
In the beginning, once they learn to speak, children are very, very literal. Therefore, it could be said that
education is the journey from the literal to the abstract—and back again.
A true story: A while ago… my family, the 4 of us, were sitting at the dinner table. The 6 year old
wanted to impress us. He said: Did you know that in Seattle there is a parade every year, and the
bicyclists in the parade are naked?! The 3 year old brother was flabbergasted, and responded: What?!
You mean without a helmet?!!
Education is the journey from the literal to the abstract, and back again.
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What makes a good teacher?
Skilled teachers can lead students toward the discovery of multiple ways to solve an equation and
encourage divergent ideas and ways of thinking. Learning to think for oneself, to make inferences, to
see beyond the literal story, are skills of maturation acquired through the patience, skill, and kindness of
the adults in a child’s life. Those who teach children to think, are providing a key to a glorious, infinite
space filled with treasures.
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Of course as children mature, they sometimes regress. They learn that being too literal can come in
handy.
Ever ask a teenager where he has been? Do you mean where I just was or where I was a few hours ago?
Do you mean have I ever gone there, or are you asking about tonight? Are you asking if his parents were
home at all, or just whether I saw them …do you mean did we actually take a drive or did I just sit in the
car and talk?
Putting aside the teen years, for another topic on another evening, let’s go back to the question: What
makes a good teacher?
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Great teachers seize upon the opportunity to encourage the art of text study/interpretation/ midrash—
that is, the art of going beyond the literal interpretation of words. …Good teachers ask us probing
questions, and they are prepared to wait for answers…they ask us to take our thinking deeper, and they
create an environment where it is safe to share ideas. There is no greater honor than that which is due
to the teacher (Mishna Torah).
In his book Teach Like a Champion, Doug Lemov summarizes the 49 traits he has identified in good
teachers. Chapter 7 in particular resonates with me and with tonight’s celebration. It is entitled:
Building Character and Trust. He identifies many techniques for helping students become menschen,
and for teachers to foster trust within their classrooms. What stands out for me, is that while reading it,
I thought about Torah study and Jewish education. While the book is new, written in 2010, the message
is ancient.
Having had the privilege of being both a teacher and a parent, I would like to add that there is a lot that
parents can learn about parenting, from good teaching. The reverse is also true.
OK, so here is a taste of what he says. I will highlight 5 techniques used by good teachers, which
promote building character and trust.
*Technique #1 for building character and trust is Positive Framing. Good teachers use positive
framing by making corrections consistently and positively. How is this done?
Start by assuming the best in students. Assume goodwill. Live in the now. Restrain the temptation to
focus on what went wrong. Describe that from this point forward , here is what you should do… do this
by giving instructions describing the next move on the path to success. Talk expectations and
aspirations. An example: ” You guys are doing great—you look like Torah scholars. This is usually
taught in college and you got it!”
Let the lesson you study be like a song. (Talmud,Shabbat 106b)
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*Technique #2 for building character and trust: good teachers use precise praise:
a. A lot has been written recently about how to praise a child. Saying, “you are smart” is out.
Praising a student for working hard is in.
b. Praise must be genuine.
An example: “I am so proud of you for the way you handled yourselves today serving at Operation Sack
Lunch. I love how you remembered to smile and to give eye contact. I am inspired by your kindness.”
Let your neighbor’s honor be as dear to you as your own.
*Technique #3 for building character and trust: Be warm and strict. Having high expectations is part of
caring for and respecting someone.
Words by the Kotsker Rebbe:
Teaching is a fragile art. Something moves a teacher’s heart. The heart causes words to flow.
The teacher’s voice then sends moving molecules of air across the room. With luck they reach
the student’s ears. And perhaps, they then move the student’s heart.
*Technique #4 for building character and trust: Good teachers infuse The J-Factor. J is for Joy. The
message here is for teachers to find ways to let their genuine version of joy shine through. This can be
seen in the form of quiet passion, humor, or even high-energy antics, like, say, maybe, dressing up like
Ahashverosh on Purim, lying on the floor shouting ani rozeh yayin—I want wine! Years later, students
remember the joy.
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel said: What we need more than anything else is not textbooks but text
people. It is the personality of the teacher which is the text the pupils read; the text they will never
forget.
*Technique #5 of good teachers for building character and trust: Normalize error.
Imagine a classroom where it is OK to make mistakes.
In the Shulhan Aruh is written: A student should not be embarrassed if a fellow student has understood
something on the first or second time and he has not grasped it even after a number of attempts. If the
student is embarrassed because of this, it will turn out that the student will spend his time in the house
of study without learning anything.
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In this week’s Torah portion it says:
Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed. We can take this line literally to
remind us that thou shall not murder. The Chafetz Chayim expanded the interpretation and said: God
will require the penalty also of him, who publicly humiliates a fellow man, whose blood is shed when he
is made to blush in shame.
Let the honor of your students be as dear to you as your own. (Pirkai Avot 4:15)
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In this week’s Torah portion, after the flood, Noah sends out birds in search of dry land:
At the end of 40 days, Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made, and sent out a raven. It
went to and fro until the waters had dried up from the earth. Then he sent out a dove to see whether the
waters had decreased from the surface of the ground. But the dove could not find a resting place for its
foot, and returned to him to the ark, for there was water over all the earth. So putting out his hand, he
took it into the ark with him. He waited another 7 days, and again sent out the dove from the ark. The
dove came back to him toward evening, and there in its bill was a plucked-off olive leaf. Then Noah
knew that the waters had decreased upon the earth. He waited still another 7 days and sent the dove
forth; and it did not return to him anymore.
A teacher sends off many students in her lifetime. She hopes they will have learned how to navigate the
world and to find a meaningful place to land. It might take many years and a number of tries.
We appreciate the teachers who have taught us to think.
We honor the teachers who have taken us past the literal and asked us to stretch.
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And to conclude, I share a prayer from the reform siddur Mishkan T’fillah:
Source of all being,
May the children of this community learn these passions from us:
Love of Torah, devotion in prayer, and support of the needy.
May we guide with integrity, and may our leadersip be in your service.
May those who teach and nourish us be blessed with satisfaction,
And may we appreciate their time and devotion.
Bless us with the fruits of wisdom and understanding,
And may our efforts bring fulfillment and joy.
Baruh atah, adonai, she-ot’ha l’vad’ha b’yirah naavod.
Blessed are you God; we worship you alone in awe.
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