Four Qualities of a Great Teacher
The
most important quality a teacher needs is passion. Teaching requires extensive
planning, training, patience, trial and error, learning, research, experience, and
so much more investment that can eventually become tiresome. Other teachers may
become discouraged.
I believe passion is the key quality
that keeps a teacher devoted to their practice in face of disappointment
because they care deeply about their students. I believe a passionate teacher
doesn’t feel like their job is worth losing. Should a teacher lose their
inspiration, students immediately begin to suffer. The longer a teacher carries
on without passion, the longer they disservice the students, parents, school,
and community.
Another
important quality is creativity. Student dynamics will be forever changing and
technology will continue to advance. Just the same, resources will accumulate. A
creative teacher will regularly utilize their resources to craft an original
classroom atmosphere where all students will love to learn. Students with
different learning needs will be let down by teachers who teach a routine
lesson year after year. Revision along with imagination will help keep new
students engaged in used material. In addition, a resourceful teacher is also
an excellent resource for their students. All of my favorite teachers surely
stood out because they were both passionate
and creative.
A
more necessary than extraordinary quality is organization. Organization in the
classroom helps promote organizational skills to students as they learn that
each item has a place. Bookshelves and cubbies are examples of storage units
that can be kept in the classroom for different items and purposes. It also
promotes a sufficient school day because students spend less time looking for
materials and more time on their lesson. This quality also includes preparing a
“Plan B” incase an unforeseen circumstance arises. An orderly teacher is a
prepared teacher.
Lastly, a teacher needs to be respectful. Students who receive respect will know what respect
looks like and in turn will be able to express the behavior to others. Showing students respect will
encourage them to be confident learners.
