How do you know if your a good teacher?

I am doing SIET work and one of the moms told my supervisor I am not experienced enough, so I was let go of the case. I am so upset. What if I am a bad teacher? Sometimes I just feel like maybe I should do something else. I am so upset.

Re: How do you know if your a good teacher?

i'm not sure what SIET is...but is this mom a licensed teacher? if not, what gives her the credentials to question yours? if she knows what is best, why isn't she doing it? you are licensed by the state and were hired by your company, so THEY think your qualified, which is what matters.

if it were me, i would take the "outraged" approach and question your supervisors about what specifically makes you unqualified. if all that mom said was you didn't have experience, that's no reason to be let go from a case.

experience does not equal competency

Re: How do you know if your a good teacher?

A siet is a special education itinerant teacher. I do early intervention work. In this case, i went to the childs preschool, and kinda just helped him to share and things of that nature...

no the mom is not a teacher. She said she feels since he only has 2 months left, that she should make the most of it, and she feels i dont have enough experience in this type of disability. (in my opinion she doesn't even know whats wrong with him)

so my supervisor is taking over the case for me. she said it happens. if the parents aren't happy they can request someone else....

its just very discouraging to someone like me who is just starting out and who is very self concious already...

Re: How do you know if your a good teacher?

Do NOT take it personally. My mother does early intervention work as a speech and language pathologist and every now and then runs into a difficult parent who thinks they know what their child needs, when they really do not. You cannot allow parents to make you feel like you are not a good teacher. There are ALWAYS parents who don't like you or your teaching style, and there'll always be children who you might not "reach". As far as I'm concerned, the fact that you are self-reflecting makes you a fabulous teacher. You're obviously willing to take a look at yourself in order to better what you do. That takes a good person and it certainly makes a good teacher

Re: How do you know if your a good teacher?

Message edited 4/2/2007 8:03:21 PM.

Re: How do you know if your a good teacher?

There are always going to be difficult parents...I consider myself a good teacher and have been told this by the administration and I have parents getting in my face threatening to switch their kids out of my class...and I say go ahead! This year it has been the parents who think their children are complete angels when they really aren't or the parents who have kids in danger of being left back.

Re: How do you know if your a good teacher?

First of all, I personally think you know if you are a good teacher if the student is learning.

Second of all for SEIT teachers, it is a much more difficult position than a school situation b/c most times you are at a parents home. Just like all teachers have different teaching styles, all parents have different parenting styles. What is acceptable to some parents is not acceptable to others. Parents also can be high maintenence and while most of the time the squeaky wheel gets the oil, sometimes you just ignore it b/c all it does is squeak - if you know what I mean.
Has this student had any other teachers? Sometimes, parents compare teachers which is not right, but tends to happen. In terms of being not experienced, did you ever tell the parent that this was your first case? Never say that b/c it gives them an idea in their head.

After reading this over, I know this sounds very harsh about parents. Most of the time parents are great and are just happy that their children are making progress!

Re: How do you know if your a good teacher?