Asking someone who their favorite high school teacher was is a great way to start a conversation. It’s personal–but not too personal–because while the response can be far more revealing than a reaction to today’s weather, it doesn’t require any really private information. It’s open-ended because it invites elaboration. Best of all, because you’ll be able to respond in kind, the question will open up a real back and forth exchange.
My favorite high school teacher was Ms. Johnson (out of respect for her privacy and modesty, I’m not using her real name). She was energetic, personable, and obviously interested in her subject. But lots of teachers are like this. What made her special, what made her my favorite, was that she gave me a lot of personal feedback. She spent class time explaining “the material.” But she also spent a lot of time outside of class responding to our homework. She designed course assignments with this in mind: lots of short reports, which allowed her a chance to respond to us individually. And respond she did–not just with grades, but with thoughts and supportive comments of her own. She didn’t just “teach” me, she conversed with me. The result was that my love for the subject grew, as did my appreciation for serious conversation about it.
Who was your favorite high school teacher–and why?
