What are the characteristics of a good teacher?

Question

reasons and examples

Answer 1

A good teacher is an effective teacher.

I never answer questions with a web site, but visit Harry Wong's and if you can, borrow or buys his "The First Days of School" book. It is amazing. (and yes, that is his name).

http://www.harrywong.com/

Answer 2

As a person working on a PhD in education and as a part-time professor, this is a question I ask myself all the time. I do many "jobs" from contract work to my regular archivist job. But teaching is the one I find most fulfilling and what I hope to do full time soon.

I had a lot of bad teachers growing up and I know a lot of good ones now. I think I'm pretty good and my students rate my work highly. My classes are always full, which cannot be said for some of my colleagues.

First, a good teacher needs to know their subject matter. Knowledge breeds confidence. If you know your stuff and aren't just teaching out of the book, you'll be well-respected.

A teacher needs to love teaching, not just getting three months of the year off every year. Teaching can be fun or it can be a pain. If it isn't fun for you, then don't do it.

A good teacher needs to be a skeptic. A lot of the crap kids are forced to learn is just that - crap. A good teacher is a good consumer of knowledge and can understand what needs to be reinforced and what needs to be passed over.

Good teachers need to know when not to teach. They need to know when to listen to their students, when to capitalize on what's called the "teachable moment" - a time when something happens in the classroom or in the world that deviates from the lesson plan but that really is a good opportunity to learn.

Good teachers are not lecturers, they are facilitators of learning.

And finally, a good teacher needs a lot of self-confidence. Kids "smeall fear" and uncertainty. One of my best friends is one of the finest educators I've ever met. She is very smart and very attractive, but she has an almost iron will. Nothing phases her or wipes the smile off of her face. She teaches both 3rd graders and college students and even though the subjects are very different she has no trouble. Her students are attentive because she is self-confident. No one would even thing of getting our of line in her classes!

Answer 3

1. know your stuff
2. keep UP with "your stuff" (i.e. continuing ed, workshops, etc.)
3. know the kids you teach
4. know the CULTURALLY significant things for the kids you teach (i.e.) TV shows, music, movies, vocabulary, etc.
5. be able to tell a parent tactfully that his/her child is (fill in the blank with bad news)
6. be able to work with your administrators
7. be HONEST with your students
8. talk to your students (about what matters to THEM other than school work)
9. learn how to do a LOT of paperwork that you feel is irrelevant
10. know how to use a computer
11. understand that you will be spending a lot of "after school" time doing job-related activities (grading papers, writing plans, going to workshops, watching various sporting events, concerts, etc.) - make sure your "significant other" knows this too!
12. know that you WILL have days that you wish you had ANY other marketable skills so that you could do ANYTHING except TEACH! haha
13. prepare for #12 above!

Answer 4

A good teacher is someone who...

1. has a lot of knowledge, and wisdom to share to her students.
2. listens to her students' ideas and opinions
3. is just at all times. Doesn't have favorties
4. is a good role model
5. is concerned about her students even outside of the classroom.
6. is patient and hardworking
7. is dedicated to her work.
8. inspires others

Answer 5

Knowing the material, lots of patience, must have respect for the students and demand respect from them. Also, be creative in your teaching methods. Don't be boring.

Answer 6

smart, to the point, lets us understand not him/her, is not bias, clearcut answers, teaches well with good composure and temperment, gives us extensions on home work and many more!

cheers for the question!