3 Simple Things to Do to Become a Good Teacher

How do you define what a good teacher is? Is she the one who constantly gives you good grades? Or is she the one who speaks English fluently? Is a teacher who is a friend to everyone the best one for you?

We may have different answers to the questions previously mentioned, but there are general characteristics that we all want to see in a good teacher. Here are three of the most important ones:

1. A good teacher is dedicated to helping students discover their abilities and capabilities to explore, understand, learn, and cross bridges. She is passionate in all the things she does – whether in school, in her relationships, with her family and friends, in fulfilling her dreams, and in living a good, productive, and meaningful life.

A dedicated and passionate teacher will help her students see the positive side of life no matter what the circumstances may be. She will be able to encourage them to go through challenges with their heads up high, never giving up or backing down until they succeed and reach their goal.

She motivates her students to become the best versions of themselves.

2. A good teacher is not only knowledgeable and skilled in her field; she’s also innovative. She knows how to turn even the most difficult situations into exceptional experiences – for both the students and her fellow teachers.

She knows how to think out of the box. She uses her creative juices to make sure that the students are always craving to learn and understand more. She knows how to make boring (and complex) topics into fun and exciting activities.

She knows how to make her students appreciate and value every discovery and learning adventure.

Her curiosity help fuel her imagination; it is the reason why she’s constantly innovating and creating things that can help make her students’ experiences more enjoyable, memorable, and meaningful. She does all these because she genuinely cares for her students.

3. A good teacher knows how (and when) to interact with her students. She understands her students and knows that they are always looking for someone to help validate what they are doing; that they are doing the right thing and that they can be achievers and efficient leaders someday.

A good teacher knows that dialogue is important, not only when she is inside the classroom discussing the lesson, but also when she meets students in the hallway, in the mall, or at an event. She does not only say, “Hi!” or “Good morning!”; she really finds time to talk to them and may even sit down with them at the canteen or the school field when the students want to talk to someone.

She knows how students value their connection with their teachers and she is determined to create a strong one with all of them.

These are just three of the most essential characteristics of a good teacher. There may never be a perfect teacher, but there are a lot who are doing their best to be one every day, every moment of their teaching lives.