We Asked an 11-Year-Old What Teachers REALLY Need to Know
As teachers, we spend a lot of time thinking about our students. We carefully plan lessons, create engaging activities, analyse assessment data, and constantly ask ourselves how we can better support the children in our classrooms. But how often do we stop and ask students what they think?
In this special episode of Rainbow Skies for Teachers, we sat down with a very important guest. Monte, an 11-year-old Year 5 student, shared his honest thoughts about school, learning, and what teachers need to know from a student’s perspective.
The result? A refreshingly honest conversation packed with valuable insights that every teacher can learn from.
What Teachers Need to Know About Building Trust
One of the strongest themes that emerged throughout our conversation was trust. When asked what makes a teacher great, Monte’s answer was simple. A good teacher is fun, encouraging, and helps students feel supported.
But when we dug a little deeper, something even more powerful surfaced. Students want to know that their teacher genuinely cares about them.
According to Monte, trustworthy teachers are the ones who look out for students, help them when they need it, and make them feel valued.
Even more interesting was his belief that students can tell when a teacher truly believes in them. For Monte, teachers show belief through positivity, enthusiasm, and encouragement.
This is a powerful reminder that relationships are not an extra part of teaching. They are the foundation that supports everything else we do.
Learning Is More Overwhelming Than Adults Realise
One of the most eye-opening moments in the interview came when Monte answered the question: “What do adults misunderstand about kids at school?”
His response was immediate.
“The amount of learning. There is a lot.”
As teachers, we know curriculum demands continue to grow. However, hearing this directly from a student was a valuable reminder that children often feel the weight of those expectations too.
Monte described feeling overwhelmed and tired by the amount of learning expected before recess alone.
This does not mean we lower expectations. It means we remain mindful of cognitive load, provide opportunities for movement, and build in moments for students to recharge throughout the day.
Sometimes what teachers need to know is not that students cannot do hard things. It is that they need support, balance, and opportunities to breathe along the way.
Students Enjoy Learning More Than You Might Think
One thing that quickly became clear is that students are not asking for constant entertainment. In fact, Monte was very clear that learning can include hard work.
Worksheets have their place. Practice is important. Students understand that. However, he explained that lessons become more engaging when they include variety.
Some of his favourite learning experiences included:
- Maths games
- Brain breaks
- Partner activities
- Mini whiteboards
- Research tasks
- Outdoor learning opportunities
- Small group support from the teacher
Interestingly, he also shared that lessons do not need to be games all the time.
Students are often happy to work hard when they know there is something engaging, rewarding, or collaborative built into the experience. That is an important distinction.
Engagement is not about turning every lesson into a game. It is about creating learning experiences that feel meaningful, interactive, and achievable.
Why Some Students Do Not Ask for Help
Every teacher has experienced the moment- a student sits quietly, struggling with a task, but never asks for assistance.
When asked why students sometimes avoid asking for help, Monte offered an honest answer.
“They might feel like they’re not the smartest.”
That simple statement highlights something many educators already suspect.
For some students, asking for help feels risky. They worry about looking incapable. They worry about being judged. They worry about getting the answer wrong.
So what helps?
According to Monte, trust begins from the very first day.
Getting-to-know-you activities, relationship building, and creating a welcoming classroom environment all contribute to helping students feel safe enough to ask questions when they need support.
It is another reminder that classroom culture matters. When students feel safe, they are more willing to take academic risks.
Outdoor Learning Still Matters
If there was one thing Monte wished teachers knew about children his age, it was this: Kids love being outside.
While this may not surprise many teachers, his explanation was insightful.
He was not talking about replacing learning with play. Instead, he suggested bringing learning into outdoor spaces whenever possible.
Whether it is measuring objects in maths, conducting investigations in science, or simply completing activities in the fresh air, outdoor learning adds an element of excitement that many students genuinely enjoy.
For teachers looking to increase engagement, this can be a simple but highly effective strategy.
Sometimes a change of environment is enough to reignite enthusiasm and focus.
What Teachers Need to Know About Challenging Tasks
One of the most surprising responses came when Monte was asked what keeps him going when work feels difficult.
His answer? The feeling of accomplishment.
He explained that completing a large amount of work or solving a difficult problem gives him a sense of satisfaction that motivates him to keep going.
This highlights an important truth about student motivation. Children often enjoy challenge more than we realise. While support is essential, students also want opportunities to experience success after effort. That feeling of “I finally figured it out” can be incredibly powerful.
The Final Message Every Teacher Should Hear
At the end of the interview, Monte was asked one final question.
If every teacher could hear just one thing from an 11-year-old, what would it be?
His answer was simple: “School can be really tricky.”
Those four words capture so much of the student experience. Learning is exciting. School is fun. Friendships matter. Teachers make a difference.
But alongside all of that, school can also be challenging, overwhelming, confusing, and exhausting at times.
Perhaps what teachers need to know most is that students are doing their best too.
Just as teaching can be difficult, learning can be difficult.
When we approach our students with empathy, understanding, and genuine curiosity about their experiences, we create classrooms where everyone feels supported. And that is where real learning happens.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Check out Monte’s favourite UNO Math Games
Find Halloween Inspired Math Resources here
Listen to our Episode about Outdoor Learning here
About Today’s Guest
Monte is a Grade 5 student, sports lover and maths fan who, like many kids his age, has his ups and downs when it comes to loving school!
As the eldest of three children and the only boy in the family, Monte loves surfing, bike riding, sport and pretty much anything that gets him outdoors. He also has a special connection to Rainbow Sky Creations because it all began when his mum was on maternity leave with him, making Monte the little inspiration behind where it all started.
Over the years, Monte has been an unofficial Rainbow Sky product tester, trying out countless games, sharing his ideas and suggesting clever tweaks to maths activities to make them even better for students in classrooms around the world.
About the Podcaster: Ashleigh Smith
Ashleigh Smith is an experienced primary educator, former school leader and Co-Founder of Rainbow Sky Creations. With almost 20 years in education, Ashleigh has taught in Australia and internationally in Dubai, UAE. Today, she draws on her classroom and leadership experience to create practical, engaging resources that save teachers time and make learning meaningful and fun. A passionate cheerleader for teachers, Ashleigh is all about helping educators work smarter, not harder. She also co-hosts the Rainbow Skies for Teachers podcast, sharing practical ideas, strategies and encouragement with primary teachers around the world. Connect with her on Instagram or LinkedIn.
