What are the most vital qualities of a good teacher?
Good teachers are made up of a combination of hundreds of qualities that allow them to do their job effectively.
There is no denying that all teachers have their own unique mixture of these qualities. It is this uniqueness that ultimately makes a teacher special. Each teacher is different, but virtually every good teacher has some combination of these twenty-five most essential qualities.
A good teacher is accountable.
Accountable – Holding yourself to the same expectations and standards as you hold your students.
A teacher cannot have double standards. For example, if you do not let your students to chew gum in your class, then you should not chew gum either.
A good teacher is adaptable.
Adaptable – Making changes to lessons or activities on the fly because of an unforeseen situation or issue.
A teacher must be willing to change. If half the class does not understand a particular concept, then you cannot continue and must quickly come up with a better way to teach that concept.
A good teacher is caring.
Caring – Going the extra mile to make sure that every student is successful no matter what.
A teacher must figure out the personalities and interest of each student and integrate components that connect with each individual.
A good teacher is compassionate.
Compassionate – Knowing that your students have problems outside of school, and making the necessary adjustment to help them through those issues.
A teacher must consider outside factors. For example, if a student has just lost a loved one, the teacher should empathize and adjust accordingly.
A good teacher is cooperative.
Cooperative – The ability to work effectively with administrators, other teachers, and parents for the good of your students.
A teacher must be able to make cooperative relationships with others around them even if they do not essentially like them.
A good teacher is creative.
Creative – Taking a concept and shaping a lesson that is unique, engaging, and dynamic.
A teacher must be able to create lessons that grab their students’ attention and make them want to keep coming back for more.
A good teacher is dedicated.
Dedicated – Showing up every day and spending the needed time to give your students with the best education.
Teachers often arrive early and stay late. They work parts of weekends and summer to make sure that they are prepared.
A good teacher is determined.
Determined – Finding any means required to reach all students no matter the challenge.
Teachers must be willing to do anything to make sure that all students receive the education they need.
A good teacher is empathetic.
Empathetic– Being sensitive to a student’s struggles even though you may not personally be able to relate to them.
A teacher must put themselves in the student’s shoes and see it from their perspective. This approach is frequently transcending in how to help the child succeed.
A good teacher is engaging.
Engaging – The ability to grab the attention of a classroom full of students and to keep their attention throughout the entirety of the class period.
A teacher must make lessons that are fun, fresh, and energetic. You want your student to walk out of your class each day looking forward to the next.
A good teacher is evolving.
Evolving – A continuous process of year over year enhancement and growth.
A teacher must continuously look for ways to develop themselves as well as individual lessons or components of lessons.
A good teacher is fearless.
Fearless – Trying a new strategy that may be outside the norm and may receive criticism or scrutiny.
A teacher must be willing to try anything within the parameters of school policy to reach their students. They must also be ready to defend their approach to criticism.
A good teacher is forgiving.
Forgiving – Quickly putting incidents with student, parents, or other teachers behind you so that it does not affect your teaching.
Teachers must be able to get past hurtful actions or accusations quickly. They must not hold it against any student or let it influence how they teach in the classroom.
A good teacher is generous.
Generous – Volunteering for extra assignments and/or giving money out of your own pocket for classroom requirements or individual student needs.
Teachers do not earn much, but most teachers are willing to donate time and/or money to help out in areas where it is needed.
A good teacher has grit.
Grit – The determination to overcome any obstacle in the way of attaining a long-term goal.
A teacher must possess the grit needed to make the personal sacrifices necessary to ensure that every goal is reached every year.
A good teacher is inspirational.
Inspirational – The ability of a teacher to get their students to buy into, believe in, and to be motivated to become lifelong learners.
A teacher should make a lasting inspirational impact that follows a student throughout their life.
A good teacher is joyful.
Joyful – Coming to class each day in a good mood, excited, and enthusiastic about doing your job.
If the teacher has a lousy attitude, the students are going to have those kinds of attitudes as well. If the teacher is joyful, the students are going to be joyful.
A good teacher is kind.
Kind – Saying and doing things that uplifts, encourages, and inspires.
Kindness should be inherent for all teachers. A mean spirit will turn students off, but a kind spirit is invaluable.
A good teacher is organized.
Organized – The ability to keep things neat and orderly letting teachers to access materials quickly and to make efficient transitions.
Organization is an essential quality for every teacher. Teaching encompasses so much that those who are unorganized will be overwhelmed and swallowed up.
A good teacher is passionate.
Passionate – Teaching with enthusiasm and exuberance on a daily basis because you love the content and your students.
A passionate teacher connects with their curriculum and their students which maximize learning.
A good teacher is patient.
Patient – The ability to see the whole picture and to understand that the school year is a marathon, not a sprint.
A teacher must never give up on a student. They should continuously try new strategies understanding that eventually something will work.
A good teacher is resilient.
Resilient – Not letting adversity to stop you from achieving your goals.
A teacher must be resilient in overcoming the many obstacles that will present themselves over the course of a year.
A good teacher is resourceful.
Resourceful – Finding a way to make things happen even when things get in the way.
A teacher must be able to figure out how to get supplies and materials for their classroom when the funding is not available and to reach a student who has no interest in learning.
A good teacher is trustworthy.
Trustworthy – The ability to get others around you to believe in you and what you are doing.
A teacher must obtain the trust of both their students and parents. Any distrust will negatively affect the classroom.
A good teacher is vulnerable.
Vulnerable – Letting your students to gain insight into your life without revealing a lot.
Vulnerability enables students to relate to their teachers as they share common interests such as sports, television, etc.