Having some life experience outside the classroom and outside the realm of education is invaluable for putting learning into context and keeping school activities in perspective. 1. A good teacher, at its base, has two main characteristics: A Solid, working knowledge of the content and a high intrapersonal intelligence. At university, all teachers are taught a concept called pedagogical content knowledge. So if you’re a university student reading this post, you might want to ask yourself: If I want to be a good teacher, do I need to brush up on my content? Strong teachers do their job without worrying too much about “what the principal will think”. With 25 – 30 students in any classroom, you need to be able to walk in there and know what you’re doing every time. Children will wet their pants, call you “Mommy” and make wildly inappropriate comments (which are, usually, hilarious in their own way).eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'helpfulprofessor_com-leader-4','ezslot_6',121,'0','0'])); And all the way through all of this, you can’t fall apart. What happens if a student finishes super early? What happens if the whole class doesn’t understand? 4. One of the characteristics of a good teacher is that he/she should be a good communicator. A willingness to share knowledge and experiences with others is one of the most important qualities of a good teacher, Rogers said. It’s probably the number 1 skill new teachers realize they need if they’re going to succeed beyond the first term. Well, at the end of the activity I slyly tucked away the flip chart paper on which we scribbled all our notes, knowing it’d be a great idea for my blog post topic of the week. A good teacher is a flexible teacher. Characteristics of Good Teachers A good teacher can be defined as someone who always pushes students to want to do their best while at the same time (2014, 09). You can’t talk down to them or give them the cold shoulder for a week as a punishment for their behavior. Descriptors such as caring, fun, interesting, creative and motivational made the descriptions colorful. How can they give me quality information about the content I’m teaching? You need to put yourself through all-nighters to get those reports written and essays marked. No matter the success or failure of the risk taken, the experience will certainly be memorable for the kids in that class, and isn’t that what we’re aiming for? It ensures we don’t go off script and realize ten weeks into the term that … wait, I’m not even half way through the curriculum! But teaching may not be for everyone, since being good at this job comes with certain qualities one must possess. Teachers should not always be looking to change students through teaching. Your lessons will come undone due to circumstances well beyond your control. And again. What differentiates the best from the rest? Characteristics of a Top Teacher by Becton Loveless There are many characteristics, techniques, etc. So, put on that happy, entertaining and enthusiastic face for the sake of the little learners in your care. These students run the risk of disengaging altogether. So, below, for all you teachers (and I’m sure university students!) Confidence while teaching can mean any number of things, it can range from having confidence in your knowledge of the material being learned to having confidence that your teaching acumen is second to none. Your students may also cause a lot of stress and strain on you. It’s the first one most teachers would come up with when you ask them: what’s the top quality of a good teacher? If you haven’t go patience, you aren’t going to make it as a teacher. They understand that learning is not a neat and tidy activity and that adhering too closely to rules and routines can drain from students the natural curiosity, spontaneity and passion that they bring to school. And that there’s a lot of hard work and preparation that goes into writing lessons. As the capstone to this, it is good to emulate Jesus Himself, the Greatest Teacher, … The second half of the pedagogical content knowledge equation is, clearly, content. You’ve got to be a person who really gives a lot of themselves to their job. 169 times. Read more about Chris here. This person is approachable, not only to students, but to everyone on campus. I made many, many, many more in my first 2-3 years. So, with that said, whether you’re a teacher in an elementary school or a university professor, here are 20 observable characteristics every effective teacher should possess. Pedagogy is everything from the art of breaking concepts down into bite-sized chunks to knowing when students’ brains are saturated and it’s time to take a break. Teachers aren’t competition with each other. This is the one I suggested to the group first up. Cue point 2 …eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'helpfulprofessor_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_5',645,'0','0'])); >>>RELATED ARTICLE: 9 CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD MANAGEReval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'helpfulprofessor_com-leader-1','ezslot_8',667,'0','0'])); The second key quality of a quality teacher is their ability to manage groups of children.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'helpfulprofessor_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_16',110,'0','0'])); I know these are unconventional ones to start with (yes, I’ll get to the clichés like ‘Patience’ in a moment).. When a student doesn’t understand the way you’re teaching something It’s something that comes from working with the disadvantaged and disempowered. And good teachers have it. They’ll point you in the right direction, share their resources and ensure you’re on the right track. Kids fail because they have dyslexia, or struggle with academics. When a student has made a mistake or been rude to you, you can’t call them a jerk. If you’re a science teacher, you damn well better understand Newton’s Third Law. Instead, you’ve got to know who and what sources to trust. They should also be open to change when interacting with students. If a teacher promises a student they’re going to follow up on something, they’d better follow up! And we see it in our jobs every single day. I first came across him on the Cult of Pedagogy podcast and have recently been finding myself going back to his blog posts a lot. But if you’re not confident that you’re in the right place when you’re teaching, you’re probably not. This is the teacher to whom students know they can go with any problems or concerns or even to share a funny story. His mission is to help thousands of unversity students understand their topics in an easy-to-read way. Below is a list of traits, some of which may be familiar but many of which will never show up on any sort of performance review. In fact, the best teachers live by the code “It’s easier to get forgiveness than permission.”, August 28, 2019 - Updated on February 19, 2020. Other teachers get tied into logical knots to avoid admitting “I have no idea what the answer to your question is.” But teachers who genuinely connect with students are the ones who aren’t afraid to show emotions in class, who can admit that they aren’t in fact the repository of all knowledge. You need to be community minded to be a great teacher. Kids fail because their parents aren’t feeding them a nutritious diet. Kids fail for all sorts of reasons out of their control. In return, you’ll get more than just a paycheck – you’ll get a community. Caring means that the teacher will go the extra mile to make sure that every student will be successful no matter what. You’re switched on, planning lessons, and digging deep and working hard even when you’re tired in order to get the work done. We understand that our jobs are tough – really tough. Confidence while teaching can mean any number of things, it can range from having confidence in your knowledge of the material being learned to having confidence that your teaching acumen is second to none. Kids really do say and do the funniest things. We rely on each other an awful lot in this profession. We’re teachers of the next shop assistants, lawyers, bakers and doctors. You need to be an expressive speaker, you need to be engaging, understand how to use pitch and pause for effect. After all, as the old adage goes, there’s no such thing as bad publicity. And so is inspiration and aspiration. out there brainstorming qualities of a great teacher – look no further! Intellectual curiosity All good teachers are intellectually curious and naturally driven by their interests in keeping abreast of changes in their fields. Your students and their parents don’t care that your marriage is falling apart. So, Teachers Need Patience: it’s a cliché for a reason. 5. Even when a student is coming across as a complete and utter jerk … you’ve got to be kind. tend to lack focus. If a teacher … If you’ve got stringent ideas about how your lessons are going to play out, you’ll have a lot to learn! Your behavior and mannerisms are picked up by your students. This quality is a part of the previous two. Students found this motivating and commented that they looked forward to coming to classes. 8 Characteristics Of A Great Teacher. It’s your job to set the scene. It creates a you-against-them relationship rather than one grounded in respect and rapport. What happens if a student finishes late? When you’re struggling – hard – to get a student to understand a concept (that seems so insanely easy to you). I usually start with trusted senior teachers in my school. Communication also involves explaining exactly what the assignments and expectations are. Education is a very hands-on field and often requires experimentation within the classroom to discover which methods of … You’ll be committed to its success. Teaching can give you a demanding workload. We teachers tend to care about justice. You’ve got to be able to smile and laugh your way through. As a university teacher, this is no more evident than when it’s my marking period. They don’t care that you’re mourning the death of a family member or you have had a medical scare over the weekend. If we promise something, they’re going to remember if you followed through. If you’re too stubborn to realize you’ve got a lot to learn, you’re going to be a terrible teacher. I have always wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl so I usually read all the articles about how to become a good teacher. You need to care about your community because you’re at the heart of it. You need to be a consummate professional when you’re under pressure. A good teacher is a flexible teacher. They know what needs to be done to get students from A to B. They have great aspirations and ambitions for what a good teacher is. And … perhaps worse … my students don’t respect me! There’s no room in the classroom for a teacher who hasn’t got the wellbeing, happiness and success of their students in their minds. We encourage our students to be risk takers, we’d all like to be risk-takers, but let’s be honest, the nature of the beast is that many teachers are not naturally risk-takers. Why? T his is one of qualities of a good teacher that can be overlooked. This helps inspire interest in students, who pick up this enthusiasm. We want to see all children succeed, no matter whose class they’re in. When you’re starting out you’ll be relying on your senior colleagues a lot. The answers are nebulous at best. Use of this website is governed by the Terms and Conditions, Disclaimer and Privacy Policies you can access via links in the footer. A good teacher notices when even one student among many does not understand, and makes an effort to communicate individually when necessary. From understanding the critical importance of collaboration and teamwork, to being able to answer that ageless senior math question “when are we going to use this?”, educators who have spent significant time and energy on alternate pursuits come to the profession with a deep understanding of where school fits into the bigger picture of life. All the advice on this site is general in nature. These characteristics show what makes a person to be termed as a good teacher. Who knows if it’s wrong? Essential Qualities of a Good Teacher Teachers Need to be Self-Aware, Perceptive, and Knowledgeable Illustration by Derek Abella. It’s never going to end. This influences the way the students react toward the target language and, therefore, their success in learning it. Unfortunately some students will rely simply on external motivators, but worse, we’ve all run into students who really can’t find a relationship between what makes them tick and what’s happening in the classroom around them. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Write an essay about the characteristics of a good teacher. As time passes, the statement “But I’m not very good with _________.”(fill in the blank with any number of technological devices) is sounding ever more like “But I’m not very good with a telephone.”. In 2013, as a profession, we lose credibility every time we allow excuses like this to go unchallenged. Being organized plays an essential role in being a good teacher, and is a very important quality of a good teacher. In my opinion, a good teacher is someone who is passionate, reasonable, knows the material, listens, questions, is responsive, caring, nurturing, and helps develop minds and talents. Whether it’s worrying about who’s late to class, collecting every little piece of work in order to ‘gather marks’ or spending too much time lecturing to the class in order to ‘cover the material,’ or teaching what’s most important, there’s no shortage of ways to distract teachers from what’s important. Of course nobody want to be a wallowing, blubbering mess in class, but what better way to teach empathy than to give the students someone to empathize with when we’re having a bad day? has already been spilled on this topic. that make for a successful teacher. Teachers who can’t help students make this connection need to rethink what’s going on. There will be times when parents and superiors will put you under a lot of pressure. They Don’t Worry Too Much About What Administrators Think. It’s hard not to be. A good teacher exhibits countless praiseworthy attributes, but three are absolutely supreme. You have a connection to just about everyone in your community.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'helpfulprofessor_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_9',120,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'helpfulprofessor_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_10',120,'0','1'])); And, you’ll be able to turn up to community events and be welcomed with open arms. The teaching profession is a sharing profession. Seekprofessional input on your specific circumstances. 1. And I think anyone who feels that way is going to really hate their job. They use a mix of teaching methodologies so that both visual learners and auditory learners are able to understand the lesson. In other words, power over the voice is essential for: For teaching well, having power over your voice is about knowing how to pause to let content sink in, emphasize the important terms, and express interest in the topic. A good teacher demonstrates the ability to balance and prioritize numerous responsibilities. However, you should try to move the lesson in the direction of accomplishing the outlined goals. They can laugh with (not at) their students. Working with students – and especially children – will throw up new problems. Life’s tough. And they can laugh at themselves and at their situations. You need to get down to their level and let them know you forgive them, and you believe in their ability to do better. 9 years in, and I’m still learning a ton of information from that site. They’re single mothers digging deep to get a degree while working full-time and struggling to pay the bills. In a recent professional development day, we were asked to begin by brainstorming the qualities of a good teacher. Ten Qualities of a Good EFL Teacher The best EFL teachers are not born but are made. Now let’s move beyond the platitude to what this really means. eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'helpfulprofessor_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_0',159,'0','0']));It’s a “the more you know the more you realize you don’t know anything” situation. Great teachers can laugh. Point 8 previous point naturally leads to Point 9. Because of the fact that, we rarely had to do with these kinds of teachers, made us think like that. Studies have shown that educational quality increases when the teacher meets the following criteria: Competence in the subject area:It is essential that the teacher has a good command of the subject he is going to teach. Teaching is a community-oriented profession. Teachers aren’t shy about sharing their opinions on these matters, I’ve found. But yep, it’s true. And you constantly think about quitting, but then remember … hey, the good outweighs the bad. And I don’t know squat. Their activities may end up breaking something (usually the rules) in order to spark excitement or engagement. A good teacher unreservedly extends love and acceptance to … However, in most cases, it is vital to With large classrooms and many students who are all different, patience is a must for a good teacher. Clarify my expectations and raise students’ aspirations? Twitter: @helpfulprof. AS A SUBJECT TEACHER DO I: Have detailed up-to date knowledge of the subjects I teach? The tiny skills of knowing where to stand in the classroom, how to set table arrangements, use inflection in your voice, project an identity and project authority are huge qualities that make a good teacher. We’re not just teachers of individuals. But right at the core, when you strip away all the other layers, lies one important goal:eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'helpfulprofessor_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_7',109,'0','0'])); To ensure students learn.eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'helpfulprofessor_com-banner-1','ezslot_1',644,'0','0'])); A clear-eyed focus on learning helps us develop quality lessons every time. They need to be able to think on their feet and make changes to their lesson plans based on the needs of their students. But at times, things go wrong. A great teacher is warm, accessible, enthusiastic and caring. Well, before long, we teachers realize that fun is important. eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'helpfulprofessor_com-box-3','ezslot_13',641,'0','0']));If you’ve ever been in a staff room, I’m sure you’ll agree this question sparked a lot of engaged discussion. Second half of the others listed above well organized/knowing of subject, it shines through a called. 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