Last week we discussed five characteristics of a great teacher. Here are five more universal characteristics that many excellent teachers have in common.
Click here to read characteristics 1-5.
#6. Great teachers are comfortable with not knowing. There are going to be dilemmas you cannot immediately resolve, and questions you cannot immediately answer. It’s okay to not know, to be open to letting your students tell you the answer, and to understand that learning never stops, even for the teacher. If you can live with an unanswered question, think and observe, the answer may develop in an unexpected, unconventional way.
#7. Great teachers adapt and change to meet student needs. Can you really claim to have taught a class if no one learned any of the concepts in the lesson from your presentation? If none of your students ever pick up a book outside of the classroom, have you really taught them to be better readers? A great lesson plan and a great lesson are two entirely different things. It’s nice when one follows the other, but it doesn’t always work that way. Teachers teach so that students may learn. When learning doesn’t happen, you need to be willing to devise new strategies, think in new ways, and generally do anything possible to revive the learning process.
#8. Great teachers form strong relationships with their students and show that they care about them as people. Great teachers are warm, accessible, enthusiastic and caring. Teachers with these qualities are known to stay after school and make themselves available to students and parents who need them. They are involved in school-wide committees and activities, and they demonstrate a commitment to the school.
#9. Great teachers are masters of their subject matter. They exhibit expertise in the subjects they are teaching and spend time continuing to gain new knowledge in their field. They present material in an enthusiastic manner and instill a hunger in their students to learn more on their own.
#10. Great teachers communicate frequently with parents. They don’t wait until parent/teacher conference night to connect with parents. They frequently send emails/notes home and don’t hesitate to pick up the telephone to call a parent if they are concerned about a student.
Next week we will discuss the last of these universal traits. Let us hear from you. What characteristics do you think embody great teachers?
