Common Practice in our Schools

       A common practice that I would like to change in our schools is the standardized tests. Some kids are terrified at tests and they become so nervous that they cannot perform well. I do not believe these tests are a true depiction of the student's ability and quality. Teacher also feel the pain because they are not teachers anymore, they are completely focus on the tests. Everything you hear in the classroom is "remember, if you see a question like this on the test you should answer like this.." It does not matter if the students are intelligent or have common sense what it matters is that they answer the questions correctly on that test. Teachers need to teach what is required for that particular level and be responsible for their classes. They need to help the students that are getting behind and support them throughout the year. 

Characteristics of a good teacher

My teacher commanded the classroom from the moment he entered the room. He did not have to be a dictator or raise his voice to gain the respect of the students. It was clear when it was time to learn or to joke. His passion for History and his good communication skills made it easy to fall in love with the subject. I learned a lot about History. I could imagine the stories and the places like I was there. He was fair and firm and he did not give us any break, we needed to do our work and meet the dateline. One of his best qualities was his diversity while teaching. He used different ways to present the lesson to reach everyone, like power points, movies, pictures and lectures.