CHARACTERISTICS OF A GREAT TEACHER

Rosalyn Y Dizon

As a young student, I would have told you that a great teacher is someone who provided entertainment and gave very little homework. However, the many years of teaching, my perspective has changed. Needless to say, the opportunity to share what I have learned with future leaders have allowed me to have some lively discussions in terms of what it is to be a great teacher.

Teaching is hard work, and there are some teachers who never grow to be anything better than mediocre. They barely do what is required of them to do and very little more. Great teachers, I have noticed, work tirelessly to create a challenging, nurturing environment for students. I have come to realize that great teaching have less to do with our knowledge and skills than our attitude toward our students and our work. Although this is definitely not all-inclusive, I have narrowed down the many characteristics of a great teacher to those I have found to be the most important: A great teacher is accessible, warm, enthusiastic, and caring. This person cares about everyone . The teacher whom students know they can go with any problems or concerns or even to share a funny story with is always a nice one to have in school. Great teachers possess good listening skills and take time out of their way-too-busy schedules for anyone who needs them. A great teacher is the teacher who leaves personal baggage outside the school doors – so no one ever knows he/she having a bad day. Each person’s ideas and points of view are valued in a great teacher’s classroom. This teacher creates a welcoming learning environment for all students who feel safe to express their feelings and learn to respect and listen to others as well. Respect, they say, is earned through respecting others.A great teacher owns a love of learning and inspires students with his passion for education. On his quest to provide the students with the highest quality of education, a great teacher constantly renews himself/herself as a professional. He/ She has no fear of learning new teaching strategies and incorporating technologies in lessons. He/She also seems to be willing to share what learned from coteachers.Teacher realizes that the expectations has for his students greatly affect their achievement; They knows that they give as much or as little as is expected of them. So he/she never expects nothing less than the best.A great teacher shifts gears. He assesses his/her teaching throughout the lessons and adjusts when it isn’t working. This teacher finds new ways to present the material to make sure that key concepts are understood.

The author is Teacher

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III at Northville 16 Elementary School