TRAITS OF A 21ST CENTURY TEACHER
Excellent teachers bare rare to find, and a few people, including administrators who hire teachers, know what it takes to be one. Although some of the qualities of good teachers are subtle, many of them are identifiable. Here are some list of traits that excellent teacher have in common, A teacher must have patience; no teacher should be expected to have much patience with individuals whose lack of discipline, immaturity, or indolence interrupts the work of other students, Patience with students who are trying to learn, however, is part of the teaching profession. Impatience with sincere students is an indicator of the teacher’s own shortcomings.
A teacher must be confident; good teachers are confident in their abilities to sense where students are in the learning process and in their students’ abilities to learn material that is presented in a logical and graduated fashion.
A teacher must have achievements; experienced teachers have clear thoughts on what their students should know at the end of the term, and they understand what they must do along the way in order to reach those goals.
A teacher must have awareness; teachers in secondary schools must have eyes in the back of their heads. They need to be aware of everything that happens in their classrooms and in adjacent hallways. Teachers who are awake are able to stop nonsense before it starts and keep students on track.
A teacher must be matured; students experience emotional ups and downs in life, and insightful teachers are able to sense the changes and respond to them appropriately. Teachers must be pillars, consistently encouraging students to grow as human beings and to develop academically.
A teacher must be knowledgeable of the subject matter; you can’t teach what you don’t know. All teachers need not be experts in their fields, but possessing knowledge is important. Teachers must continue building their understanding of their subjects throughout their careers.
A teacher must be kind; talented teacher are able to work with students with varying levels of maturity and knowledge. A college professor I personally know once made the following statement about his experienced as a teacher: “Each year teaching is more challenging for me, because I grow a year older and the students stay the same age. The widening age gap forces me to stretch in order to reach them.”
A teacher must have mission; perhaps the most important thing teachers communicate to students and to the community is a sense of satisfaction with their choice of teaching as their mission in life. Teaching at its higher level is a calling, and good teachers feel it to their cores.
A teacher must have enthusiasm; excellent teachers never lose enthusiasm for their profession. They might become temporary, burdened by administrative hassles or an isolated problem, but their underlying engagement with their work is unwavering. Students feel this energy, and teachers who project it are much more successful than those who do not.
— oOo— I at Conrado P. Macapinlac Sr. High School The author is Teacher