The Characteristics of a Great Teacher

Annette V. Rillon

Great teachers work tirelessly to create a challenging, nurturing environment for their students. Great teaching seems to have less to do with our knowledge and skills than with our attitude toward our students, our subject, and our work. In this article, I have put together some of the characteristics of a great teacher. * Respectful. A great teacher respects students. In the classroom, each student’s ideas and opinions are valued, so they feel safe to express their feelings and learn to respect and listen to others.

* Sense of belongingness. A great teacher creates a sense of community and belonging in the classroom. The mutual respect in this teacher’s classroom provides a supportive, collaborative environment.

* Accessibility. A great teacher is warm, accessible, enthusiastic and caring. As a teacher, being approachable is crucial in building relationships with your students and co-workers. Great teachers possess good listening skills and take time out of their way-too-busy schedules for anyone who needs them.

* Inspiration. A great teacher has his own love of learning and inspires students with his passion for education and for the course material. He/she constantly renews himself/herself as a professional on his/her quest to provide students with the highest quality of education possible.

* Leadership. A great teacher is a skilled leader. Effective teachers focus on shared decision-making and teamwork, thus, a great teacher conveys a sense of leadership to students by providing opportunities for each of them to assume leadership roles.

* Professionalism. A great teacher maintains professionalism in all areas from personal appearance to organizational skills and preparedness for each day.

Teaching is a gift that comes naturally for some, but others have to work overtime to achieve great teacher status. But with all these effort, I am pretty sure students will remember a great teacher like you.

--oOo-

The author is Principal I at Sitio Culubasa Elementary School, Floridablanca

East District