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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, June 29, 2006

What makes a good teacher?

Advertiser Staff and News Services

Kim Oliver, a 29-year-old Maryland kindergarten teacher, was named national teacher of the year in May. Here's her take on an important issue for teachers.

Q: What's the most important quality a teacher needs for success?

A: You have to be able to establish relationships with your students. Children work for teachers that they love, teachers that they like, teachers that they know expect them to do a good job. Teachers also need to be able to establish relationships with parents because parents are the best partners to have in a child's education. And finally, they need to be able to establish relationships with their colleagues as well because teaching is no longer about isolation. It's not about being in your classroom, closing your door and doing what you want to do. It's about collaborating with your co-workers and learning from their expertise.

Source: Gannett News Service

EDUCATION FACT

In 2003-04, just under one-half (47 percent) of community college students received some form of financial aid, primarily grants (40 percent).

Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics

TO THEIR HEALTH

BAM! Body and Mind, a site sponsored by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, includes a Teacher's Corner with middle school classroom activities based on national education standards for science and health. The site is designed to answer students' questions on health and science, and recommend ways to make their bodies and minds healthier, stronger and safer.

www.bam.gov