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Adults often look back at their academic years and fondly recall a teacher or two who made a difference in their lives. Whether because of their teaching style, genuine concern for students, or personality, there was something about these educators that was truly memorable.
In the sample essay below, the author talks about his favorite teacher and discusses what makes a good teacher. He then relates it to the qualities he discovered in the teacher he admires the most.
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Qualities Of Good Teachers
I’m sure that if I asked you today what an outstanding teacher looks like, your mind would go back to your favorite teacher. You would then identify certain qualities this person possesses that have earned your admiration and respect.
Today, I want to share with you what I believe are the characteristics of a good teacher. I will begin by talking about some of the best teachers I’ve had the privilege to learn from.
Mrs. Altman was one of my music teachers. She knew I had a hard time learning how to master key transitions and manually drawing the correct scales. Instead of berating me and assuming that I wasn’t making the effort to study and practice at home, she spent an afternoon after class coaching me. She didn’t have to, but she knew that all I needed was some extra time and space to learn without being judged or shamed.
Mr. Connelly was my history teacher. Everyone knows that history is my least favorite class subject, so for most of my school life, I would be disinterested and bored. I would only really open my books to memorize important facts while studying for a test. But when I got Mr. Connelly for American history, I was completely fascinated by the stories he told. He had a way of making them come to life and feel meaningful to me personally.
These are the kinds of teachers I admire and look up to. Let me share with you some great qualities I observed from them.
An effective teacher employs different learning styles to connect with all their students
One thing I admired about my favorite educators is that they did not stick to one teaching style or activity because it was their preferred method. They understood that a classroom represents a plethora of learning styles that would respond differently to each activity or approach. With this in mind, they made it a point to try their best to accommodate all of these styles by changing up the activity every now and again. They gave each student the opportunity to learn and understand things better through different activities and materials that connect well with them. I believe that good teaching is more than about knowledge and articulation. I think that a big part of it is also identifying the most creative and effective delivery methods to relay as much relevant information as possible.
A great educator acknowledges the vital role of life lessons and sharing their own experience
While other teachers stick to the lesson plan and the theories and facts included in them, exceptional teachers integrate these theories and facts into real-life situations. They bring it down to a practical and relevant level and enable their class to connect the principles to actual application. They ask questions such as, “What does this mean to you today?” or “How might you see this affecting your life?” and make time to share their experiences. They recognize that personal stories play a significant role in ensuring that the lessons don’t leave the students even after the session is over.
Excellent teachers have true compassion, are emotionally stable, and are good listeners
I don’t think many people know how stressful and thankless the teaching profession can be. It can be deceiving that the work they log in officially falls under school hours, which may not seem like a lot. But the truth is that educators spend a lot of time in between preparing lesson plans and grading papers, sometimes even extending some quality time with a student to help them out with a particularly difficult lesson. On top of all these, they also relate with fellow teachers, administrators, and parents. It goes without saying that they need to be emotionally healthy people to be able to interact well with different stakeholders and not burn out. Compassion is also important because it would be hard to come alongside young people without a passion and burden to set them up for success, no matter what it takes. Finally, they know how to listen to their pupils and their parents, as well as school authorities, without getting oversensitive or easily offended. And they do it all at a high level of professional efficiency.
Unforgettable teachers celebrate the progress, growing confidence, and emerging skills of their pupils
Going beyond the changes in academic grades, the best teachers celebrate the specific milestones of the children. They have the ability to understand that personality, attitude, natural strengths and weaknesses, family life, and learning styles all play an important role in academic performance. So they learn to see each grade as the sum total of all these factors. They are dedicated to encourage all their pupils. It is through them that students learn that excellence is not just about good grades, but also the growth they experience in other aspects of their academic lives, which is part of the overall learning process.
Admirable educators have a strong dedication to all parts of the job, long after the bell rings
The teachers who truly care go the extra mile. They continue to generate new ideas on how to produce good quality teaching activities. Teachers work long hours outside the classroom to ensure that other students with special learning needs are catered to in their lesson plans. They know the importance of encouraging children to maximize their education, which implies a responsibility on their part to teach and relay knowledge well. For these educators with a sense of purpose, teaching is more than a job that brings home the bacon. It is a vocation and way of life.
Conclusion: Teachers play a crucial role in setting a positive classroom environment
In today’s society, we need more teachers who are concerned about the next generation and care beyond just checking off their teaching tasks. There is a large space in the profession and in many schools for educators who possess good teaching qualities, which represent a mixture of solid skills, commendable character, and exceptional competencies. With superior teaching skills and a positive attitude about work and the children they get to invest their lives in, the best teachers weather the highs and lows of the job with grace. Their first priority is to set a culture of fun and meaningful learning in the classroom and find creative ways to motivate students to gain new insights every day.
I will never forget all the good teachers I’ve had and everything they taught me. I will always remember how they carried a sense of pride in being an educator. They made it feel like it was the best job in the world. There are at least ten qualities that I can think of when I combine the admirable characteristics of my favorite educators. All the progress that I’ve made to this day is thanks to their confidence in me, their drive and dedication to teach even when our class becomes difficult, and the way they encourage us on a bad day.
Do you have some good teachers in your life? If so, today is a good day to thank them for the important role they play in your growth and future success.