Primary school, high school, uni. Whatever you like. No names needed.
For me:
EDIT: Writing this post made me really appreciate the fact that I've had some amazing teachers. I've had heaps I haven't found as effective, too, but that will always be the case. This thread is dedicated to the good ones - no need for any negativity.
Uni Linguistics lecturer/tutor:
Spoiler
She single-handedly developed my passion for Linguistics. Was later my Honours supervisor. I've spoken about her elsewhere, but she's just the best. Very kind, not in the slightest bit patronising despite her clearly incredible knowledge in the field. Never heard a single bad word about her.
Year 7-11 VCD and Art teacher:
Spoiler
Just a freakin' brilliant human being. I simply can't imagine him angry. At all. Like, I'm sure he gets inwardly pissed, but his manner is so consistently calm, and I really appreciated that. I think everybody else did, too, because he was one of those people you just simply couldn't dislike. Even the students who usually misbehaved in class basically never did, because disappointing him was much worse than making other teachers angry.
Anyway, he was actually an artist by trade who then became a teacher. Had two kids, was very patient. His artwork is amazing - like, ludicrously good, particularly in person.
I'm really thankful for him, because he fostered by interest in design and visual communication. Legend.
Year 12 EngLang teacher:
Spoiler
Was nervous going into the year because I'd never had him before. He ended up being one of my favourites, though. Loved his sense of humour - very, very dry. He could connect with students really well, no matter the type of student. Very adaptable in that sense.
I liked him because I think he understood me and the way I learnt best. Was always up for a chat outside of class, and made a lot of time for me in the lead-up to exams haha.
Year 12 HHD teacher:
Spoiler
Had her for Science in younger high school years and was neither here nor there (due to my interest or lack thereof, and probably also class dynamics). But in Year 12, the connection was much, much stronger (I was actively paying attention for one lol), and you could tell she was doing everything humanly possible to help us do well.
HHD study scores at my school were always, always the best out of any subject - and usually by a considerable distance.
Year 12 BusMan teacher:
Spoiler
Did Business in Year 11, so was thankful to get a good one here.
Generally cool dude. Young, very relatable. Super passionate about what he was doing - always volunteered to take on more stuff that would help out his students. Organised classes before school, brought us breakfast. A great man.
Year 7-11 English/EngLang teacher:
Spoiler
She read my 12-year-old poetry and didn't laugh. Speaks volumes haha.
In fact, she encouraged me to keep writing. And like, genuine encouragement - clearly genuine. She pushed me when needed, but also listened when needed. She was also in charge of our accelerated program or whatever, so she was definitely my first teacher contact to go to for the first few years of high school.
Have subsequently caught up with her after Year 12 for coffee and donuts. Passionate about helping students.
Grade 4 teacher:
Spoiler
It was her first year out, so I was in her very first grade.
In hindsight, golly, she put in a lot of effort. Was my favourite primary school teacher. Fun.
You know, writing this made me realise that I appreciate a great deal of my teachers for a great deal of their qualities. There are plenty who were perhaps not my favourite, but I still liked them and enjoyed their classes a lot. I only included some high school teachers, because I need to think a bit more about the other teachers I have had or currently have that I really appreciate having.
3/4 Methods teacher
Had my methods teacher in year 11 and 12. Still feel bad that I wasn't amazing at methods and didn't put in as much effort as I should have. Genuinely my favourite teacher I've ever had. Such a kind and patient person, and firmly believed in everyone's abilities. I joked incessantly about how much I sucked at maths, and every single time he refuted it, and said that he believed in me, and I'd do just fine, etc. My friends and I often randomly just talk about how much we miss having him teach us haha.
Also had a lot of math/dad jokes, which were great (in a groan inducing way). He also always made himself available to answer questions, would regularly sit through lunch times with you if you needed help with questions, would happily explain a concept to you 100 times until you understood it.
I also loved him because he genuinely just loved teaching people maths. You could see it in the way he taught. Now, in uni, I really wish I put more effort into his class to show how much I appreciated that.
My admiration of him was also reinforced recently when I ran into him at an event and he spent a few minutes gushing about how proud he was for me getting into physio and how proud he was of my hard work and results. Was a good self-esteem boost haha.
3/4 Bio teacher
I admired my Bio teacher (also year level coordinator) for different reasons. She is the kindest soul and genuinely cared about every single one of her student's wellbeing. She helped me deal with a lot of stuff during year 12 and gave me a lot of advice. Gave incredibly good hugs. But yeah, absolutely loved that you could see how much she genuinely cared about everyone.
In class, she also picked up ways to help me learn better and feel more engaged before I even considered that I needed something else myself, which I really appreciated.
3/4 Revs (& English) teacher
Fantastically dry and sarcastic sense of humour. We had our disagreements, but overall, we got along famously, and I worked really hard for him. Taught me for my two most successful subjects, and he put in a lot of effort to help guide me to success (particularly for history). He understood my writing, he knew exactly how I worked and learned best for Revs and English, and he knew how to give me ideas.
As school is finishing I feel like I’m realising more and more how much I really appreciate my teachers and all of my classes and I’m going to miss some of them. These teachers I still really want to be able to meet up and talk to after the HSC and school.
Some of my favourites (just over the last few years) are:
PC teacher/roll call (Years 11-12):
Spoiler
While she isn’t a class teacher she was always there in the mornings for us and is incredibly friendly and great to talk to. She genuinely wanted to know each of us. We had these welfare periods every fortnight with our PC group and she would bring food and we would all talk about different topics. Our PC class (around 10 girls) were all fairly close by the end of the year as well.
Ancient (Year 11/12):
Spoiler
Always was able to tell our class really interesting stories and jokes that were mostly relevant to the content. We had a quote book of funny out of context quotes said from him and everyone else in the class. He is really friendly and passionate and we have a really close class which is nice as everybody wants to do well (not even in a competitive way). He made us an ancient themed escape room at the end of term which would’ve taken him so much time but it was really fun. My class is meeting up a weekend after HSC to have a BBQ and board game afternoon.
Music (Year 9-12)
Spoiler
I had two different music teachers throughout years 9-12 but they were both really supportive, passionate and friendly. One of them also used to conduct the school band and got me into playing at the school concert and made it really enjoyable (even though our band only had about 10 people and rehearsed at 8am). They both made music really fun and interesting and helped me improve both on the clarinet and with the theory.
A select few of my favourite teachers:
Physics: years 10-12
Spoiler
I'm sure that this teacher would get out his beating stick if I didn't mention him. Great guy, who really cares about his students. He also had a bit of a fan club last year, courtesy of one of my classmates- was genuinely fun. He built rapport with our class (and apparently our class only) with his alter ego rap guy V-Diddy <3, and that was great- he even brought out this persona at the final assembly, which was quite the highlight! ;D
Chemistry: year 11
Spoiler
I still have her stoichiometry song stuck in my head! She was fun, and made learning fun- songs, games, memes, fun facts- you get the picture. Was a really memorable year of chemistry, was really upset when she left for the UK halfway through last year </3
Methods and Specialist: years 11 and 12
Spoiler
He was a strictish sorta teacher, but I loved that he not only taught the content, but engaged us... by using kitkats as incentive. We threw him his first ever class party (in his 20+ years of teaching)- with his favourite takeaway: fish and chips. I think we nearly made him cry when we did that, but here's the
tumblr blog we kept of his quotes through year 11. :)
I had to have a little think about this one.
I have many great teachers. But to pick the "best" or "favourite" out of them is always a difficult process for me.
Alas here are my results, the university one will increase or stay the same depending on what happens in university.
Geography: Year 11-12
Reason why
What a legend. We were the first class he had at out school and we all knew we would love him. He dropped two pieces of information that would forever cement himself for a good roast by us. Lawn Bowls and Essendon. It was great. He took it all in his stride of course and used to love complaining about how the old gents would try to trashtalk him, when he was playing lawn bowls. He is like in his 30s. But he also was able to engage the class with the content we were learning as well. He also took a lot of the antics we did as a bit of fun like the time we go the best student to hide in a closest and try to scare him. He responded with "*Points at troublemakers* them and them doing it. But I can't believe you did it. I thought you would be the most sensible one". There was a time when one of us got his phone number, his address and tried to add him on Facebook and he was like "you guys have a serious obession problem". But I secertly think he enjoyed all the attention and he also was kind enough to accompany the whole class out for dinner at Tacobell, which I sadly couldn't attend because of assessment for other subjects. But damn, just writing this reminds me of all the good times I had with that class. He would always dub us the "Vintage Class" as well so I suspect he enjoyed it just as much as we did.
Even after I didn't have Geography 11-12 with him, i still went to him for advice and ultimately was one of the influences for me taking the university course I am. Oh and I've been asked to do a talk about my degree and how it relates to the study design for his Year 10 Geography class next year.
English: Year 11 & Co-ordinator: Year 12
Reason why
I came out of English Year 10 being completely over it. I didn't enjoy English anymore, the motivation & discipline to do well in it was in the bin and I had no desire to fix it either. Everyone raved how this English teacher was one of the best at our school and that he would be able to revamp my passion for English. I naturally scoffed at such remarks and came in with the mindset of lets just go for 70% and accept it. Well of course, that didn't happen or else this wouldn't be here. This teacher was able to singlehandly not only jumpstart my passion for English, but elevate it in such a way that has stuck with me forever. He would always constantly push me to get higher grades, to never accept the current level I was at and to always improve, improve and improve. To never stop looking for feedback and to never ever give up. It also helped that he had such a great enthunsiam for the play Macbeth because lets be real, plays are meant to read with real passion and not boredom. I didn't connect with him as much on a personal level till the following year, but he has changed the way I view English as a subject and also pushed my now extensive reading habit I have fostered. During Year 12, I went through a lot of personal issues and he really helped support me and always seek to understand what I was going through. He never judged me and always gave his fullest respect to me as an individual. I still contact him from time to time and we have a level of respect between each other that allows us to talk openly about many issues that usually wouldn't be possible amongst students & teachers. Oh I also loved his response to when I apologise for swearing at a speech I was making to the future Year 12s. "Its alright. It is what makes you".
Uni Lecturer: Cartography 1 & Co-ordinator: Year 1
Reason why
"What is your purpose"? and "Who are your users" . If you listened to any Cartography lecture that was her two favourite lines/catchphrase/advice when you took her subject. She isn't wrong about it either. She has without a doubt has been one of the most engaging teacher I have had the pleasure with interacting with it. You can just tell the passion she has about Cartography and the spatial industry. I absoutely love speaking and interacting with her, she has never not left me smiling after talking to her (Which is a rare & hard feat to accomplish). I love the fact that she doesn't belittle us or doesn't go out of her way to mention how she has done x,y,z,a,b,c. She only mentions part of her long and great working career, if it is relevant. I love how she also cares about her students a lot, she understands the things we go through and is quite lenitent on marking as well as extensions on work. I also enjoy that I can seamlessly talk to her about university related matters and also personal matters as well. I will hopefully try and get her to be my research supervisor for my 4th Year Honours Project, but even if I don't. She will be one of the few teachers I will keep in constant contact with.
Been a good while since I was studying (3 years), so my memory may not be the best.
Grade 6 teacher
Spoiler
The first teacher that came to my mind was my Grade 6 teacher.
He was not just down to earth, but also liked to individually cater and challenge his students. He also had a way of teaching practical things alongside the normal curriculum. For example, there was a day where we repurposed hard waste to make new contraptions, another day we were asked to do a 10 min talk on anything we wanted as long as we taught the class something, and another day where it was mandatory to help teachers with teaching their class or some menial tasks (basically a simpler version of what student teachers do) and/ or entertain some elderly people in the local aged care home.
He also made sure to have fun and play games (we were primarily 11-12 year olds after all), both educational and sporty ones to suit all kinds.
I don’t think I ever learnt as much as I did in primary school up until I had him. He taught a lot of us some crucial life skills.
High school Maths teacher
Spoiler
I had her over the course of a number of years, including Methods U1/2 and Further 3/4 and the one thing that made her stand out compared to the others? The time and effort she went into making comprehensive booklets on the theories and formulae we had to learn. And as a bonus, she’d also print these for us without even a care about cost for her. (I know it might seem wasteful and not good to the earth, but this was just before people really embraced learning with technology and those notes were gold.) Her notes were really thorough and was almost a Dummies’ Guide book, it was that detailed and stepped out. Her notes ended up making part of Further bound reference and made it super easy.
Her teaching was pretty good too. She took her time to explain concepts, answer questions in breaks and occasionally treated us to baked goods if we were doing well or it was the end of a year.
Uni lecturer and research supervisor
Spoiler
Most of my classmates knew my Honours supervisor as probably the one whose content they understood the least, but you could tell that he had a lot of passion for what he was teaching; he just didn’t have a lot of allocated time to teach some very complex ideas.
When I did my two research projects with him, he was probably the most accommodating teacher I ever had. He was almost always available for a chat (within reason, obviously), whether it was on his content and his research or simply a mental health check. He dealt with me when I was being somewhat unreasonable (I asked for corrections on my thesis basically last minute). He was open and always tried to do his best to help his students whenever he could.
I couldn’t thank him enough even if I tried.