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Ten Characteristics of a Good Teacher

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As the most influential figure in the classroom, a good teacher has long been the object of research. His/her most important characteristics can be analysed from more than one point of view. The objective of this study was to apply Korthagen’s model of levels of change in exploring the most important characteristics of a good teacher from the perspective of students, teachers and parents, and possible differences depending on elementary and high school and teachers’ experience. There were 384 participants: 158 students, 78 teachers, and 148 parents. The most desirable characteristics from all three perspectives were fairness, patience and teaching skills. Some differences were found between elementary and high school students and teachers. The listed characteristics fit Korthagen’s model mostly in the levels of mission and competencies.

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This paper focuses on characteristics of an effective teacher that have not been previously discussed. A teacher with these characteristics is marked by intellectual, technical and psycability. An effective teacher is expected to have this characteristic. The subject he teaches should be based on the reality and the surrounding environment. Students should see in the subject of matter means to solve their individual difficulties and those societal issues. A high-quality teacher is characterized by an emphasis on building the student's mindset, develops attitudes and relates the past to the present.

Elock E Shikalepo

This study endeavoured to establish the characteristics of effective teachers and how these characteristics assisted teachers to improve learner performance. To address this aim, a case study design was employed as a methodology for the study, consisting of five rural schools. A literature study was conducted, alongside semi-structured individual interviews with five school principals and focus group interviews with twenty eight teachers from the same rural schools from where school principals were drawn. The collected data was analysed thematically, by establishing themes and their emerging categories. The established themes and their categories were interpreted and discussed to answer the research questions. The major findings of the study revealed that an effective teacher has a blend of three characteristics, namely, professional characteristics, personality characteristics and social characteristics. The blend of characteristics contribute to the quality of teaching and learning processes. The study recommended that educational practitioners in diversity should be cognisant of the characteristics of effective teachers and nurture them appropriately as these characteristics have a life-transforming effects on the lives of the learners.

Zacxque Hazecxque

For fifteen years, the presenter has engaged college students in discussions and writing assignments that pertain to the outstanding characteristics of their most effective teachers— " effective " meaning that these teachers made the most significant impact on their lives.

Adam Simpson

European Journal of Educational Research

Hatice Ateş

Rafiq Jaffer

A. Introduction The Education Working Group (EWG) and Save the Children (SC-UK) commissioned a review of the literature on Pakistani teachers and especially good teaching. The review found that a ‘good’ teacher was the outcome of a combination of factors, including education and (to a lesser extent) training, competencies (personal, social and pedagogical), and supervision and support of head and colleagues. The review noted that the perspective of children was missing in most studies, and interviews were the most common tool used to gather data. The group felt the need to explore good teaching from the children’s perspective, and to provide children with the opportunity to express themselves through more creative mediums. The present study aimed to identify the concept of a good teacher from the perspectives of children particularly, parents, heads/colleagues and teachers themselves; identify the practices of outstanding teachers in and beyond the classroom/school; generate ideas for improving the teaching-learning process in Pakistani schools, particularly for low-income groups; and generate guidelines regarding identifying, recruiting and fostering good teachers and promoting self-sustaining teacher networks. The study was conducted in Lahore and Peshawer city and rural Kasur and Haripur districts. 16 good teachers were identified from 14 government, one private and one NGO-run primary/elementary schools. Their teaching was assessed using a classroom observation checklist. Data was collected separately on the ‘ideal teacher’ and ‘bad teacher’, and the actual ‘good teacher’ in the school. The head/colleague of the school, selected pupils and their parents (57 in number) were interviewed, and children participated in focus group discussions, role plays, and drawing teachers. Data of 518 children (281 boys, 237 girls, 251 urban, 267 rural) was collected through these methods. B. Key Findings In presenting the findings the views of children have been highlighted using italics. The ideal teacher is seen by almost all stakeholders as a soft, loving and courteous person who is neat, clean and well dressed, regular and punctual and upholds high ethical values. The ideal teacher teaches well. S/he establishes a good rapport with children, plans her lesson, explains well, uses AV aids and activities to teach, gives and checks home work, and avoids punishing children to a large extent. The general view of the bad teacher is that of a person who comes to school irregularly and late, teaches poorly or not at all, does not plan lesson, and ignores children’s needs and views. There is a remarkable similarity in the descriptions of the good teacher given by children, parents and colleagues of teachers, and observations by the researchers. They present a strikingly positive image of the good teacher, including his/her personality, competence, teaching and class management skills. However, teachers were far more modest about themselves, particularly about their personality. In the eyes of the different stakeholders the teacher identified as the best teacher in the school is soft, loving, courteous, tolerant, and considerate. S/he is regular and punctual, makes good use of time, is ethical, keeps in contact with parents and handles them well, and organizes co-curricular activities. The teacher is competent in the subjects taught and covers the complete syllabus. S/he displays good teaching skills (plans and structures lesson, explains well, uses AV aids and activities to teach, assesses children in class, gives and checks homework). The teacher also reinforces positive behavior and gives extra work to bright children. It is evident from the foregoing that all the stakeholders were fully aware of the high commitment to teaching and the excellent teaching skills of the good teacher. In the view of teachers and heads the key factors contributing to good teaching are a good working environment (school facilities), a respectful, cooperative and trusting attitude of the school administration (including involvement in decision making), cooperative colleagues, and refresher courses. Parents and/or teachers served as role models, leading to imbibing humane values, while a conducive home environment helped teachers to dedicate themselves to their work. Teachers also continued to develop themselves continuously through reading and use of media. C. Analysis of the Findings The study demonstrates that good teachers are primarily good human beings, with a loving personality, flexibility, patience, a quiet assertiveness, and a love for children and teaching. They maintain a good balance between the needs of their job (ensuring learning) and those of the children (play, development of self-esteem). Because of this they rarely need to use physical punishment to ensure learning. They fill the void experienced by most children in their homes. In many ways they represent the traditional model of teaching and learning, where the teacher is a member of the family, and learning is a holistic, integrated, continuous experience. One of the striking aspects of the study is the detailed knowledge of pupils regarding their teachers, including personal information as well as their teaching skills and weaknesses. D. Key Recommendations The recommendations for the study are presented separately for the different stakeholders. Children should: • follow the teachings of good teachers in school and at home • try to get knowledge from all possible sources (including books, media, etc.) • participate in co-curricular and creative activities • assist weak and shy children in their class/school • assist the teacher in checking work, maintaining discipline, etc. • keep parents informed about school matters Good teachers should: • encourage other teachers to observe their classes, learn from them, as well as provide feedback • inform parents of the practices used by them with their children and their impact. Parents should: • participate in parent teacher meetings and take an active interest in school affairs • dissuade poor teachers from negative practices and encourage them to adopt the practices of good teachers. • follow the instructions of the good teacher in relation to their own children (e.g. doing home work, avoiding burden of household chores). Heads should: • appreciate and reward good teaching and classroom management practices and regularity and punctuality of teachers • arrange classroom observation of good teaching by teachers and replication in their own classrooms • organise workshops on good teaching and classroom management practices in the school in which good teachers and trainers/supervisors conduct sessions • ensure that the complete syllabus is covered by teachers • involve teachers as far as possible in making decisions affecting their own work • encourage parents to take an active interest in school affairs, including financial contribution, learning about good teaching practices and their impact on children • arrange for necessary teaching aids and other facilities • organise co-curricular activities in school (including drawing competitions, role plays by children, etc.) • interact with other schools and encourage the formation of teacher networks, including joint workshops, classroom observation, etc. Colleagues of good teachers should: • be sensitive to the needs of children • observe and model the good practices of good teachers in and outside the school • appreciate the good practices of the good teacher • encourage good teachers and head to observe their teaching and provide feedback Department officials should: • recruit teachers who have basic communication skills and content knowledge and interest in children and teaching • assess teachers on an on-going basis • organise on-going training for teachers • provide necessary facilities required for teaching • have female teachers teach young children where good female teachers are available • adapt and introduce the PEP-ILE train-and-visit model in other provinces. Voluntary organisations should: • disseminate the practices of good teachers • organise training of their teachers • assist in the formation of teacher networks Donors should: • provide funding to support and reward good teaching • disseminate the practices of good teachers and the PEP-ILE model • support the formation of teacher networks.

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• Qualities Of A Good Teacher Essay

Qualities of a Good Teacher Essay

500+ words qualities of a good teacher essay.

Teachers play a crucial role in shaping the minds of children and, in turn, the quality of education. Teachers are expected to demonstrate an understanding of the subject, establish a positive relationship with students and create an effective learning environment for students to get enriched learning experiences. Their duties also involve conducting an assessment of students, working closely with other teachers to deliver the best knowledge and inculcate values in them. Teachers build a base and strengthen the foundation of their students. With the help of the qualities of a good teacher essay, students will get to know the qualities that teachers have and the role they play in shaping the career of the students. To practise more essays, students can check out the list of CBSE Essays on different topics.

A teacher is an important person in a student’s life. The teacher shapes the student in a similar way as a pot maker shapes the mud pot and makes it perfect for use. Moreover, teachers are an integral part of the education system. They play multiple roles in which they do their duties with full responsibilities. These include facilitating learning material for students, creating a conducive learning environment, designing and preparing lessons, engaging students with the community by performing different activities, and contributing to schools’ development. If they are left with the time, they engage themselves to boost their teaching skills through workshops and training sessions. These activities also make teachers motivated, highly skilled, and well-resourced to perform to the best of their abilities.

One of the important roles of a teacher is to facilitate students’ learning and support them in achieving their learning outcomes. As teachers, many times, they might get puzzled by the fact that, despite putting in the best effort, the students are not performing to the best of their potential. Self-reflection and introspection of teacher’s practices, inside and outside the classroom, will help one understand some of the aspects that require further modification and improvement. The teacher may be already practising some of the innovative pedagogical approaches in the classroom that might be very effective for enriching the teaching-learning process.

The self-assessment of the teachers is also crucial. It helps in the professional growth of teachers as well as serves as a guide to improve their teaching methodology. The role that a teacher expects includes designing the activities for the classroom, resources, learning outcomes, pedagogical strategies and assessment procedures to meet the needs of all students. The teacher helps them understand the subject content and course curriculum and provides relevant learning material for students.

Teachers collaborate with parents, students and communities to develop a positive school environment for students that enhances their physical and mental growth. The teacher engages students in classroom studies in an interactive and innovative way. It results in enhanced student learning and growth. Moreover, teachers also take the initiative by contributing to various activities, which lead to the schools’ and students’ development.

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Counselling

Effective Teachers’ Skills and Qualities Essay

The term stakeholder that refers to the educational process means people who provide well-being and success for a school and its students. Teachers, administrators, personnel, parents, and even students are all stakeholders. However, it goes without saying that teachers are the most important part of education.

Firstly, it is important to understand the essence of good teaching. Great teachers have a combination of many qualities. It is believed that such qualities as warmth, planning, and self-discipline determine a good teacher. Although a good teaching demands deep knowledge of subject matter and erudition, these characteristics are not number one. According to Slavin (2006, p. 3), “effective teachers not only know their subjects, but they can also communicate their knowledge to students.” It cannot be denied that it is crucial for teachers to follow instructions and rules. Nevertheless, teaching is a creative profession especially considering that every student has a unique personality, and it is very important to find a special approach to every individual and teach children in accordance with their personal abilities. What is more, one of the most necessary characteristics of great teachers is attentiveness. Due to this, good teachers develop close relationships with their students that, to some extent, help children to succeed not only in school but also in their future lives.

To sum up, some people say that teaching is not a profession, and it is a vocation. They assume that teachers are born that way and have some extra abilities. Although there is a sound idea in this statement, it is essential not to forget that to be a great teacher, a human has to get a degree in education and acquire necessary teaching skills.

Reference List

Slavin, R 2006, Educational psychology: Theory and practice , Allyn and Bacon, Boston.

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Example Of Essay On Qualities Of A Good Teacher

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Education , Teaching , Society , Students , Goals , Character , Knowledge , Success

Published: 12/03/2019

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In the society today education is the important thing in one’s life. The kind of learning and teaching one receives depends tremendously on the type of teacher as well as the capability of the student. Additionally, teachers and students come in different types, others are good while others are a bad. The qualities of a good teacher and student are analyzed through values, character traits and behaviors, leaning and teaching style as well as goals. Good student and teacher should posses certain qualities. Undeniably, knowledge is one the character trait that a good teacher should have. Additionally, to his/her professional knowledge, good teacher should diversify her/his capability in different fields such as humanity, society, culture, and politics, so as to provide students with varied information. Good teacher should be passionate to both the subject and the students. The lessons carried out by good teachers are always entertaining and enjoyable. A good teacher always has numerous teaching styles depending on the situation. These teaching styles include delegator, facilitator, formal authority, and demonstrator. Another quality that a good teacher should have is love, devotion, and care for his/her students. In most cases students demonstrate immaturity, a good teacher should be able to handle students affectionately and gentle. He/she should be an excellent manager. Certainly, some of the characteristics of a good teacher include accessible, interesting, patient, approachable, undersdanding, fair, concern and respectful. Good teachers set their goals based on different areas; personal goals, lesson improvement goals as well as organizational goals. Some personal goals of a good teacher include being physically and emotionally equipped to handle the challenges of his/her work. Furthermore, a good teacher goal will be to improve professional relationship. On the other hand organizational goals of a good teacher are to be organized in classroom. Above all the goals of a good teacher are always directed towards the success of the student both academically and socially. All these goals become a pillar to an all rounded teacher. In reality it is difficult to find ideal good teacher. Many teachers have some qualities of good teacher but due to humanistic nature they fail in some occasions. Hence effective teaching goes beyond the teaching of the subject matter. Good teachers always share common characteristic of strong dedication to continual improvement, humility, care, and parenting, based on essential enthusiasm to inspire students to learn and be successful. The success of a good teacher depends on the qualities of a student.

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The Most Important Qualities That Make a Good Teacher

July 30, 2023

Teachers significantly impact the lives of their learners. They challenge their students to confidently think outside the box and counter new challenges. 

A good teacher will also support their learners when they take in new challenges and fail. They build their confidence to try again, inspire creativity, and encourage exploration and competition. 

Teaching is not a job but a calling. It is, therefore, crucial to acquire and perfect the required skills to efficiently inspire and grow students in their classrooms. 

Good teachers model behaviors of patience, empathy, communication, and understanding. Qualities that they can help grow in their learners. 

In this article, we discuss ten qualities of good teachers that should serve as motivation if you hope to impact the lives of your learners positively. 

The Value of a Teacher’s Role

A teacher’s role is essential not only in the education system but also later on in the lives of their students. 

You can make a difference in your student’s life by influencing everything, from educational goals to after-school success. 

Good teachers help their students reach more success, understand themselves better, and make well-thought decisions that will help them make the right choices to propel them to greater heights in life. 

To be good at your job as a teacher, you must love it. Passion is infectious; your students will feel passionate about the subject if you are passionate about it. 

Also, you can cultivate self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-worth in your learners in your daily interactions. 

Your interactions with your students also guide them into laying the foundation for meaningful relationships, understanding their feelings, and navigating challenging situations. 

10 Qualities of a Good Teacher

Outstanding teachers have certain qualities that make them rise above the rest of their student’s lives. Such teachers have a way of remaining in our memories no matter how far removed from our school years. 

Studies from the Economic Policy Institute show that good teachers contribute more to student achievement than learning facilities and school leadership. 

Here are our top ten qualities that make a good teacher:

1. Great communicators

When you possess excellent communication skills, you will know how to teach your subject in a learner-friendly and engaging way. 

This will, in turn, improve their understanding and achievement as it will bring you closer to them and help them present any concerns they may have regarding any learned content. 

For instance, a finance class will be easier to understand if the teacher uses everyday examples with which the students are familiar. 

2. Experts in their field

Your students will be motivated to learn if you are an expert in your field. If you love your teaching area, you will show that expertise in the classroom. 

Once you have mastered the content in your subject area, you can use different angles to explain the subject matter; hence be very resourceful when teaching. 

For instance, a math teacher can use the rows and columns in the class to enhance understanding of matrices. 

3. Collaboration

Collaboration in teaching creates a growth-based learning environment that increases student learning processes.

You should work closely with other teachers and your students if you aim for great results. 

Collaborating with other teachers helps you learn from each other, allowing you to brainstorm new ideas. This is significant in improving learner outcomes. 

A good teacher is also interested in learning from parents about their students. This equips you with an understanding of how to help your students better.

Empathy is how you understand your learner’s emotional, social, and intellectual situations. A good teacher can respond empathetically to a learner’s admirable and ugly emotions without losing focus on student learning. 

For instance, if your best student failed a test. Your first instinct might be to reprimand them and for an explanation for their poor performance. On the other hand, consider putting yourself in their situation, imagine how they are feeling, and empathize with them. 

Seek to understand how they feel about the dismal performance, what they think they did wrong, and then suggest ways to improve the result. Assure them that they have a chance to turn things around. 

When your learners feel physically, mentally, and emotionally safe, they will engage better in your subject as they feel loved and understood. 

You can grow your empathetic touch by reading books on such, taking courses on empathy, and attending seminars that build on this. 

5. Loving challenges

A great teacher loves challenges. A classroom environment is full of varied challenges; therefore, embracing them is a sure way to manage them. 

Once you love your challenges, you will teach your learners more effectively. This is because a teacher who loves challenges will grow to challenge students. Students love challenges, provided they are presented in a kind spirit. 

You can draw your students to love challenges by asking thought-provoking questions that get learners to think about sequencing and predictions. 

Challenging them will push them to work harder, improve, and achieve beyond their imagination. 

6. Creativity

Although not all subject areas promote creativity, they can all be taught creatively. 

For instance, a biology teacher teaching about different kinds of plants would take students to the natural habitat to exploit the topic practically. Also, a literature teacher would more creatively use film to enhance the mental correlation of a play the learners are reading as a literary text. 

A science teacher would use real solutions more creatively when teaching learners to test for bases and acids. Learners always appreciate the extra mile. 

When you creatively motivate your learners, they are motivated to do this in education and their lives after school. 

7. Constant growth 

Teachers need a growth mindset that prepares them for the classroom environment. Continuous learning will equip you with invaluable knowledge to progressively inspire your students. The growth mindset is essential because it will enable you to collaborate with your learners with the understanding that they can learn it to a higher level. 

A view that continuous growth is essential will create a love of learning and resilience in just one area. It empowers your learners to believe they can develop their abilities with brains and talents as starting points. 

The need for growth will motivate you to focus on creativity and intelligence, the two factors that result in success in both your academic and professional lives. 

8. Patience

When managing learners, your patience is constantly tested. You will also deal with learners, parents, and colleagues with differing perspectives, backgrounds, and characters. This requires patience. 

For instance, with your learners and their parents, you must be patient in repeatedly dealing with the same questions and issues.

Also, some of your learners will have difficulties understanding various concepts; it’s essential that you keep going but should continuously try out new ways of helping them succeed. 

9. Adaptability

Your environment as a teacher is constantly evolving. This demands that you continually adapt to the constant changes and adjust your teaching methods to suit the age and intellect of your learners. 

Also, with the continuously changing educational frameworks, being able to adopt those changes makes you a good teacher. 

Adaptability is also one of the essential skills that you will require if you are educating learners of varying grade levels or those with different learning styles. 

10. Respect

Many educators imply respect, but few understand how to use it in the classroom. 

As a good teacher, you must be mindful of any imbalance in respect and ensure that your students feel respected and heard. 

In stories from American Teacher Week , Maggie remembers her seventh-grade language teacher for the respect she fostered and reflected on her students. The feeling that her teacher valued and respected each of them taught her a valuable lesson about the significance of fostering the respect you demand.

Desired Classroom Skills

Besides the teaching and communication skills you should possess as a good teacher, excellent class management skills are critical.  

Some of the desired class management skills include:

• Setting high but achievable expectations for your students – You can do this by teaching them about growth mindsets. They should believe that success is within their control. Reinforce in them daily that they can succeed if they put in the effort. 
• Good planning skills – With good planning skills, you will help students identify their goals and guide them in deciding what their priority is. Teach them how to plan their learning by breaking their tasks into steps to make them more manageable. Teaching learners how to plan will also eliminate uncertainty in the mind, which in most learners results in procrastination. 
• Creating a sense of community- A sense of community will create a social connection and a sense of belonging among your learners. You can establish this community within your students by consistently holding class meetings every morning to focus on building social and emotional skills and establishing relationships among them. 

Common Weaknesses of Teachers

Teachers, even the most experienced, are helpful with some weaknesses. Every teacher would like to see themselves as being perfect, but admitting that we are all flawed in different ways is the first step to becoming better teachers tomorrow. 

Here are some common weaknesses in teachers: 

Perfectionism

Making mistakes is a normal part of human life. Perfectionism is a fear-based pattern whose short-term rewards are getting the job done and exceeding expectations. Its long-term effects, however, include burnout, compromised quality of work, and missed deadlines. 

Being afraid to make mistakes primes us for burnout and overwhelms us with fear, factors that distort our functioning as teachers. 

Dealing with others as a perfectionist is challenging since you will always want them to do things your way, allowing little room for the ideas and imperfections of others. 

Perfectionism also prevents you from taking constructive criticism from colleagues who may want to share relevant observations on your interaction. 

Though no one is perfect, some teachers seem to have it together, and this may be the basis for our comparison. Comparison can hinder your success as a teacher if you are constantly comparing yourself with colleagues you view as perfect. 

Learning helpful hints and new ideas from teachers with the strengths we would like to possess would help you overcome comparison.

For instance, if a colleague is better at relating with learners and they look up to her more for guidance, instead of getting all jealous and bitter at her, seek to know what she does differently to get the students to open up to her. 

Spontaneous

If you are a spontaneous teacher, you act without planning but will rely on previous experience teaching diverse classes and using different approaches to teaching. 

Spontaneity in learning is not all bad, as it helps adjust the power imbalances in a typical classroom. Spontaneous teaching, however, can have some adverse effects on learning. This can result in a lack of structure to your lesson and poor lesson organization. It may also limit your degree of learner assessment of learner progress and achievement. 

To avoid the adverse effects of spontaneity, find a balance between flexibility and structure in the lesson. Consider the individual learner’s needs and learning abilities when deciding on the instructional method. 

Becoming a Good Teacher

A chosen path can guide you into becoming a better teacher. Many specialties are available, so knowing what grade you want to teach and what subject area you are passionate about is essential. 

Here are some steps to take toward becoming a good teacher. 

Bachelor’s Degree 

A bachelor’s degree is crucial to becoming a good teacher. Though most states will require a bachelor’s degree in education, alternative routes to licensure are also available. 

 It will allow you to learn essential skills that will help you become a better teacher. Such include:

• Cognitive skills : A degree program grows your ability to recall, integrate, and analyze information. You will be able to foster critical and creative thinking skills that guide fluency, originality, flexibility, and adaptability in developing and adjusting to learner programs. 
• Communication skills: Acquiring communication skills enables you to interact and collaborate effectively with your learners in delivering and assessing knowledge acquisition. Efficient communication is necessary when also engaging with students’ families and colleagues. 
• Research skills: The skills to initiate and complete data collection concerning learner performance and curricula are essential in effective instruction. A bachelor’s degree program will guide you into effectively demonstrating, considering consequences, information presentation, and record keeping. 
• Social skills: A good teacher is sensitive to ethical and integral processes of establishing functional relationships with all the school community members. The program will develop compassion, empathy, interpersonal skills, and internal motivation, skills you will require to impact your learners and effectively relate with your colleagues positively. 

Here is a list of some bachelor’s degrees that would guide you into initial certification as a teacher:

• Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education
• Bachelor of Special Ed. and Elementary Education
• Bachelor of Special Education (mild to moderate)
• Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Education (middle grades)
• Bachelor of Science in Science Education (Secondary Biological Science)
• Bachelor of Arts in Music Education
• Bachelor of Science in STEM Education

Master’s Degree

Besides attaining a bachelor’s degree, aspiring teachers should also think about acquiring a master’s degree. A master’s degree will upgrade your knowledge and help you learn more about your subject area. You will also acquire more effective ways of curriculum instruction. 

Teaching Certification

To get hired after completing your degree program, getting certified to teach in the state where you are interested in teaching is essential. 

Getting certified gives you credibility as a teacher and is one of the states’ quality measures for hiring teachers. 

Most states will therefore require teachers to have certificates to teach. 

Teachers are crucial in changing lives, inspiring dreams, and pushing individuals to realize their potential. Teachers educate the next generation, promoting positive attitudes that shape society. 

Middle School Teacher Salary in Texas in 2023

July 30, 2023 by bryan

Texas Teachers Certification Areas

Texas teachers currently offers 50+ certification areas:.

• Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources 6–12 (272)
• American Sign Language (ASL) (184)
• Art EC–12 (178)
• Bilingual Education Supplemental (164)
• Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT) Spanish (190)
• Business and Finance 6–12 (276)
• Chemistry 7–12 (240)
• Computer Science 8–12 (241)
• Core Subjects EC-6 (291)
• Core Subjects 4–8 (211)
• Dance 6–12 (279)
• English as a Second Language Supplemental (154)
• English Language Arts and Reading 4–8 (117)
• English Language Arts and Reading 7–12 (231)
• English Language Arts and Reading/Social Studies 4–8 (113)
• Family and Consumer Sciences EC-12 (200)
• Health EC–12 (157)
• Health Science 6–12 (273)
• History 7–12 (233)
• Journalism 7–12 (256)
• Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Arabic EC–12 (600 & 605)
• Languages Other Than English (LOTE) French EC–12 (610)
• Languages Other Than English (LOTE) German EC–12 (611)
• Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Latin EC–12 (612)
• Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Japanese EC–12 (602 & 607)
• Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Mandarin Chinese EC–12 (601 & 606)
• Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Russian EC–12 (603 & 608)
• Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Spanish EC–12 (613)
• Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Vietnamese EC–12 (604 & 609)
• Life Science 7–12 (238)
• Marketing 6–12 (275)
• Mathematics 4–8 (115)
• Mathematics 7–12 (235)
• Mathematics/Physical Science/Engineering 6–12 (274)
• Mathematics/Science 4–8 (114)
• Music EC–12 (177)
• Physical Education EC–12 (158)
• Physical Science 6–12 (237)
• Physics/Mathematics 7–12 (243)
• Science 4–8 (116)
• Science 7–12 (236)
• Social Studies 4–8 (118)
• Social Studies 7–12 (232)
• Special Education EC–12 (161)
• Speech 7–12 (129)
• Technology Applications EC–12 (242)
• Technology Education 6–12 (171)
• Texas Assessment of Sign Communication–American Sign Language™ (TASC–ASL™) (073)
• Theatre EC–12 (180)
• Trade and Industrial (T&I)

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10 Qualities of a Good Teacher

A good teacher can make a world of difference in a student's life, impacting everything from their classroom learning to their long-term success. If you're considering a career in education – or looking to boost it with a Master of Education  (MEd) – it's important to explore the qualities of a good teacher.

Research from the Economic Policy Institute shows that good teachers are the single most important factor that contributes to student achievement in the classroom, more important than facilities, school resources and even school leadership.

A study from the American Economics Association (AEA) found that improvements in teacher quality positively impact everything from the quality of colleges students attend to students’ future salaries, the quality of their neighborhood and even their future participation rates in 401k savings plans ( AEA PDF source ).

So, What Makes a Good Teacher?

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) education faculty and university students shared their thoughts on the qualities that make effective teachers stand out.

1. Good Teachers Are Strong Communicators.

Tanguay got his start as a high school math teacher and said that many students came to his class feeling afraid of math, discouraged by their prior experiences and too overwhelmed to approach the subject positively. 

By communicating with students at the beginning of the year about how math applies to their favorite hobbies, sports and future careers, Tanguay said his students were able to approach the subject in a more enjoyable way that better supported their learning.

“I’m a firm believer in communication in all forms,” he said. “As a leader, communication is a tool for overcoming fear.”

2. Good Teachers Listen Well.

Great communication doesn't stop when the teacher is done talking. Listening well is one of the most important skills needed to be a teacher. 

“Teachers that are skilled in listening and observing often pick up on what isn’t being said, such as any anxieties a student may have, and can then help the student build their skills and confidence levels," said student  Kristine Ducote , who is earning her bachelor's in criminal justice .

Student Latricia Maddox , who is studying for a bachelor's in business , said that effective listening skills also help a teacher better understand their students and tailor lessons to reach them how they learn best. 

“If an educator can truly hear a student, they can learn how to reach them where they are,” she said. “This will open the door for them to receive and learn the lesson that is being taught.”

3. Good Teachers Focus on Collaboration.

Working in education means you’re never truly working alone. From paraprofessionals and teaching assistants to other classroom teachers and school leaders, working as a teacher often means working effectively in a group. It's also important to keep an open mind and learn from other educators. 

The key to success in this kind of environment, Tanguay said, is the ability to collaborate. "You really need to be able to fill various roles in order to collaborate effectively," he said. "If you already have someone on your team who is going to be the one to critique all of the suggestions made, then you don't need to join in on that. Instead, maybe you need to be the person who is going to come up with creative ideas. You need to have that flexibility."

4. Good Teachers Are Adaptable.

Effective teachers need to be able to work in a constantly evolving environment and adjust their teaching methods based on the age of their students, the resources available and changing curriculum, practices and requirements.

As a teacher since the 1980s, SNHU education professor and on campus undergraduate program chairman Dr. Audrey Rogers said she’s seen tremendous changes in the education field throughout her career, particularly with the rise in access to the internet, computers and other technology. What is teaching going to look like in another 30 years? The only thing certain, Rogers said, is change.

“Change is a constant,” she said. “Learning how to adapt and adjust, that’s been one of the skills that’s been most helpful in my career. It’s about keeping my finger on the pulse of who my students are over time and all the trends, standards and new research, and being able to continually improve.”

Adaptability is also one of the key skills needed to be a teacher who may be educating students of varying grade levels or different learning styles, Tanguay said. 

“You have to be able to adapt based upon your audience,” he said. 

5. Good Teachers Are Engaging.

Being able to engage students with humor, creative lessons and a strong classroom presence is an important part of what makes someone a good teacher, Tanguay said. 

“If you were to envision that teacher that you would want in your life, even now, you’re going to want someone who is very engaging in front of the classroom,” he said. “A good teacher will perform for their students to keep them going... It’s not about sitting back and just lecturing, it’s about engaging in the work.”

What an engaging teacher looks like will vary depending on grade level and subject matter, Tanguay said. 

In kindergarten, an engaging teacher might be one who gets down on the floor to do activities with their students on their level. In high school, an engaging teacher may be one who thinks outside the box, adds humor to their lessons and finds creative ways to bring learning into the real world.

6. Good Teachers Show Empathy.

Another key to engaging students and improving their learning is to treat each student as an individual, by being empathetic and understanding to what may be going on in their lives, Tanguay said. 

“We need to take a moment to think back and think about what could be going on in this student’s life,” he said. “It’s so important to be observant, attentive, empathetic and always have a positive attitude.” 

“Something that may be easy for one student may not be so easy for someone else,” she said. “Everyone learns differently, whether it be faster or slower than normal, learns better by writing, reading or hands-on. Teachers need to always keep this in mind and always pay close attention to ensure each student is on the track they need to be.”

7. Good Teachers Have Patience.

No matter what grade level you're teaching, your patience will be tested while working as an educator.  

Whether you’re managing classroom behavior, working with colleagues with different views, or communicating student issues or progress with parents, patience is one of the most important skills to practice as a teacher. 

“More often than not you actually have to have more patience with the parents than you do with the students,” Tanguay said. “Parents are coming in with their perceptions of what happened to them when they were students or previous experiences that may have been detrimental to their child... You have to be patient and understanding of them.”

8. Good Teachers Value Real-World Learning.

Teachers who bring their students’ learning into the real world are often some of the most engaging. But it’s important for teachers to bring their own learning into the real world, too.

One of the best preparations for effective teaching is to ensure that education students get plenty of classroom experience early on in their degree programs, Rogers said.

For education majors  in SNHU's on campus program, this preparation includes embedded coursework that begins in a student's freshmen year. They spend time at a local school once a week to collaborate with teacher partners and apply their learning to the classroom. A year-long student teaching experience is also a powerful way to ensure soon-to-be teachers have the time to hone their teaching skills, Rogers said.

"Our students have that benefit of seeing the practical application (of) what they're learning in the moment they're learning it," she said.

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9. good teachers share best practices..

A willingness to share knowledge and experiences with others is one of the most important qualities of a good teacher, Rogers said. 

Education is a hands-on field and often requires experimentation within the classroom to discover which methods of communicating with students work best. Part of being an effective teacher is sharing your findings and best practices with others in the field, Rogers said.

“I always challenge my students to think, ‘What is your contribution?’” she said. “Are you brave enough to post on Twitter about your ideas on technology integration in the classroom? Your willingness to share your practice, to keep an open door, to be transparent and to be observed are an important part of your teaching.”

10. Good Teachers Are Lifelong Learners.

One of the key skills needed to be a good teacher is a dedication to continued education and a love of learning. 

Whether you’re learning more about your subject area, learning new methods of communication or even exploring how to bring more technology into your classroom, continuing to expand your own knowledge is key to expanding that of your students.

“Those dedicated to their subjects with a passion for learning make the best teachers," said student Jennifer Gardner , who is earning a bachelor's in mathematics . “They also need to have a desire to pass on that knowledge.” 

Ducote said it’s important for teachers to never feel as though they’ve learned it all, and to remain open to new experiences.

“No matter your education level, you can learn something from everyone you encounter, including fellow educators as well as students,” she said. “Being willing to continually add tools to your toolbox – even unconventional ones at times – will keep things new and exciting, as well as giving you excellent skills.”

Learn the Characteristics of Effective Teaching

If you’re interested in starting a career in education, it’s important to first focus on your own learning. Whether you’re seeking a bachelor's degree in education, an education master’s degree or even a Doctor of Education  (EdD), building a strong foundation of knowledge and real-world experiences is key to becoming a good teacher.

No matter where your career path takes you – whether to an elementary school, secondary school or even to the university level – your teaching can have a profound impact on the lives of students, and your education is the foundation for that work.

“Teachers make such a huge impact on their students’ lives,” said student Donna Whisman , who is earning her bachelor's in communication . “I believe that being a teacher is a very special gift, and those that have that gift make a positive, lasting impression on the lives of their students that can totally change the trajectory of their lives.”

Danielle Gagnon is a freelance writer focused on higher education. Connect with her on LinkedIn .

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About southern new hampshire university.

SNHU is a nonprofit, accredited university with a mission to make high-quality education more accessible and affordable for everyone.

Founded in 1932, and online since 1995, we’ve helped countless students reach their goals with flexible, career-focused programs . Our 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH is home to over 3,000 students, and we serve over 135,000 students online. Visit our about SNHU  page to learn more about our mission, accreditations, leadership team, national recognitions and awards.

20 Qualities of a Good Teacher

What are the qualities of a good teacher?

Is there some kind of list or formula a good teacher can follow to ensure they are doing their job well? Not really. But some good qualities seem universal amongst effective teachers, and I will break those down for you.

Now, I am just some dude on the internet, but I’ve taught every grade from Kindergarten to Grade 8 in both rich and poor schools, internationally and at home in Canada.  I’ve noticed a few qualities that great teacher share and these include teaching skills, teaching methods, strong communication skills, student questions, and a positive learning environment. Focusing on these will hopefully make your experience a little easier and ensure that you will be referred to as a “good teacher.”

Here are some indisputable qualities of a good teacher. These aren’t things you will hear in degree programs, or professional development courses. But if you have most of these, you could enjoy a long and happy career educating students which is one of the most aggravating, fun, and important jobs.

Quality 1: You’re There for the Right Reasons 

If you went into teaching thinking, “Ah, well, the salary is OK, and you get the summers off,” there’s no way you will be all that good at it or want to stay longer than a year or two. Unlike other jobs, you can’t mail it in one day and catch up later.  You have to be ‘on’ every day or classroom behavior will decline fast.

Does that mean you can’t ever be hungover? Pretty much. You have to really, honestly want to be there to engage kids and increase student achievement- end of story.

Quality 2: You Don’t Get Grossed Out

Many say they can’t go into nursing or become a paramedic because they can’t stand the sight of blood.  This is true for teaching, too – kids get nosebleeds regularly, snot is everywhere, and poop too.

I have had to deal with a young child eating dog poop off the playground, and yesterday I had to talk to a boy about reaching into his pants, tearing out his pubic hair, and sprinkling it on the classroom floor.  So a good teacher wouldn’t get freaked out by these disgusting scenarios.

Quality 3: You Have Perspective

A good teacher has taught in different places or to vastly different groups of kids. You know that if you can joke around and win over kids who don’t speak the same language as you, you can make it anywhere.

You have a perspective on kids and families who may be different from you, and your appreciation for diversity is evident in your teaching strategies and classroom.

You consider your own biases and how they might be affecting your kids. Bias, prejudice, and discrimination don’t have to be racial or gender-based. The best teachers try to question their own assumptions from time to time.

If you worry about your preferences, the good news is that it is a sign that you are on your way to overcoming them.  I am sorry to tell you if you consider yourself bias-free, but you probably aren’t.

Quality 4 You complain Strategically 

A good teacher avoids engaging with teachers who are always complaining as much as possible. I’m not saying a good teacher doesn’t complain because if you don’t get it out with other adults who understand, you’ll bring your anger into the classroom. So you save the complaining for your one work BFF you know you can trust.

Quality 5:  You Rarely Rage in Class

Kids can be more annoying than you ever thought possible. But before you go nuclear on that little imbecile who has done an even stupider thing than he did yesterday, you consider why they are doing that silly/annoying/infuriating thing and how losing your mind will only worsen the situation.

So you try to figure out what’s happening with the kid instead. But you have a healthy outlet for the inevitable anger you will feel, like kickboxing or breaking porcelain figurines.

Quality 6: You Connect, then Correct

This is a pretty common saying in teaching, but it’s true.  It is way easier to ignore ‘the teacher’ than to ignore a real person who has spent time getting to know you and trying to help you. You know that if you want the kids to respect you, you must put in the time to establish a relationship.

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Quality 7: You Stay Up to Date on Tech but Know Most PD is Junk

The best thing from the COVID-19 lockdowns was old-school teachers finally learning to use technology.  Most professionals (doctors, lawyers, etc.) must take mandatory courses yearly to update their skills, so why shouldn’t we?

Well, one reason may be that ‘Professional Development’ meetings often consist of trendy, unusable gobbledygook cooked up by someone who hasn’t worked in a school and has little to no skin in the game.

If an idea doesn’t seem right, you have a healthy skepticism but are still open to learning new ways of preparing materials and teaching methods, to teach.

Quality 8: You Don’t Care About Being Liked

This new trend is where parents seem to care if their kid ‘likes’ the teacher.  Here is an excellent formula for being liked: Give everyone good grades and don’t make them do anything. See?  Everyone wants you, and the parents are happy!

But that doesn’t mean the kids are learning anything or improving. Don’t go out of your way to be a jerk, but you need to put the long-term needs of the kids first, and if that means that the students or their parents don’t always agree with you, that’s okay!

Quality 9: You’re Not a Sage, and there is no stage

Students have opinions. Regardless of their age, it’s not your job to bully students into agreeing with you.

As long as they can use some evidence to back them up, the students feel free to share their viewpoints without worrying that you will shoot them down, no matter how stupid they are.

Quality 10: You’re Not Their Friend

You don’t mistake your students’ respect, or even their appreciation of your witty banter, to mean that you are always friends.  You keep the lines drawn, especially on social media. You only interact at school and through school email; that’s it.

Quality 11: You Give the Kids the Benefit of the Doubt

You know that every student wants to do well, and they want their teacher to love them regardless of what their actions seem to say. So you take it easy on them when they make a mistake.

You also give students the benefit of the doubt when you gather intel on them – you know that last year’s teacher isn’t you, so just because they don’t have great things to say doesn’t mean you will have the very same classroom experience. You also know that kids often change drastically over the summer too.

Quality 12: You Can Take An Insult 

Kids say mean, inconsiderate, and cruel things, and sometimes they don’t even realize how hurtful these comments are. You know kids are kids, and you don’t fly off the handle when they tell you your breath smells like a poop sandwich.

Quality 13: You Have Systems & You’re Consistent

The younger the students, the more fantastic the teachers are at this. Everything’s well thought out, and nothing can be left to chance.

From entering the building in the morning and celebrating birthdays to engaging students making fair teams in P.E. without hurting anyone’s feelings – a teacher with a pre-planned approach leads to a relaxed, consistent vibe in the classroom and learning environment that benefits everyone.

Letting students have choices is a trendy but helpful option, and it helps ensure enthusiasm for projects and such, but you have a brief but unshakeable list of non-negotiables that are etched in stone. These might include a seating plan that you make; phones are away when you’re teaching, and mutual respect.

It doesn’t matter what your classroom rules are as long as the students know they are ironclad. Otherwise, they’ll push back on all your decisions year-round.

Quality 14: You have routines 

The most amazing primary classrooms often have whole periods of the day where the teacher does not address the class as a whole and instead works with small groups and individuals while the rest of the kids automatically complete tasks and work on activities.

Ask the teacher how they accomplish this; the answer typically involves going all-out on routines for the first couple of months of the year. You know that once you have established your practices over the first little while, you can go wild with special spirit days, field trips, and all the other fun stuff. Your kids know when to snap back into normal mode, no problem.

Quality 15: You’re Curious, Not Furious

Let’s say a student is being a massive jerk out of the blue. You know it’s probably not about you. Once, I had an ordinarily easygoing student snap, kick over his desk, and storm out of the class after I asked him to take out his notebook. It turned out he had just found out his parents were splitting up. You know that situations like this are often the case.

Student temperament can be affected by a ton of stuff: What’s going on at home, what/if they have eaten, sleep patterns, and anxiety about holidays or summer vacation.  You know it’s better to discover what’s up before becoming a disciplinarian.

Quality 16: You Ask for Advice  on Teaching Skills

When you are faced with a weird situation you haven’t dealt with before, you know there is a good chance that another teacher in your building has seen it before. You’re not afraid to reach out for advice.

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Quality 17: Effective Teachers Meet Them Where They’re At

You know there are plenty of things you can’t do because it doesn’t come naturally to you. You keep this in mind when working with students who are struggling. You chose to be a teacher because school was (probably) easy for you, and you (probably) liked it.  But you know that not everyone is like that.  School is challenging for many kids trapped there for 8 hours a day. Similarly, your interests aren’t universally appealing to all of humanity. Perhaps you are the world’s biggest basketball fan. You will likely be drawn to students who also love basketball. That doesn’t mean the kid who’s into anime gets less of your attention.

Quality 18: You’re Real

You never want to be that teacher who talks about themselves all day, but you’re not scared to occasionally drop some truth about yourself on the kids. It makes you a natural person and reminds you that you were a dumbass when you were younger.

Stories when you screwed up are precious, and you share them after disciplining a student sometimes to humanize yourself and encourage students.

Quality 19:  High Standards for Student Achievement

You are friendly and care about the kids, but your primary purpose as a teacher is to make them the best they can be. That means that you hold them to a high standard academically and in terms of their behavior, attitude, and character.

It is a ton of work, but you know that seeing their progress is a total and utter joy – one of the best feelings there is, period.

Quality 20:  No Burnout

The kids are with you for 6 hours every day. You know they pay more attention to what you say and do than you realize. So you act kindly, are thoughtful, and use precise body language throughout. You see the irony of the teacher who screams, “FOR THE LAST TIME, I HAVE TOLD YOU TO BE QUIET!”

So, there are 20 years of teaching experience boiled down to the top 20 qualities of a good teacher. Talk to some more teachers, if not all students, and they will all have their particular ideas of what makes a good and effective teacher too, and it will probably be some version of what you just read.