Teacher Personality
Teacher Personality
Almost anyone can become a teacher, but it takes a special
person to be a great teacher. To inspire not just a great student, but a great
person, a teacher must rise above the crowd and make a lasting impression. So
what does a student remember for years to come? Which characteristics make a
great teacher?
Empathy
A great teacher is sensitive to their students’ needs. On a
child’s first day of kindergarten, when they are crying for their parents and
refusing to participate in class, a great teacher sits with them until they
calm down. In middle school, when a child enters adolescence, overwhelmed by
learning not just academics, but learning about themselves a great teacher is
patient, understanding and available to talk. And in high school and college,
when faced with the task of planning their future, a student looks for a
teacher to provide insight and wisdom.
Enthusiasm
Why should a student be excited about learning when their
teacher is not excited about teaching? No teacher can be great without loving
what they do. To excite and inspire a student requires excitement and a passion
for the material itself. Enthusiasm is contagious. All it takes for a student
to get excited about going to class is a teacher who is excited and whose positive
energy fills the classroom.
Creativity
Creativity is key to captivating a student. So often when
someone reflects on their education, they remember a particular moment in the
classroom that stayed with them. They remember when a teacher turned the table
of elements into a rap or used an episode of The Real World to illustrate an
invaluable life lesson. They remember the group projects that involved more
painting than writing, the role-plays and the fun games to test their
knowledge. Showing a student something they haven’t seen before even showing
them something familiar but in a new way is the surest way to leave an
impression that lasts for years.
Dedication
A great teacher must be dedicated to their students, with an
unwavering commitment to their education and well being. It’s easy to be
enthusiastic about teaching when things are going well but teaching isn’t
always easy. Like with any job, teachers occasionally have their bad days, but
a dedicated teacher realizes the rewards of teaching are far more important. In
the face of frustration, a dedicated teacher continues trying to reach each of
their students, and they exercise the patience needed to ensure that a
disinterested student still learns. This requires being flexible and adapting
to each student. A great teacher never gives up.
Discipline
When it comes to teaching, many people associate strictness
with unpopularity. On the other hand, some adults look back on their education
and remember their strictest teachers as some of their best. How can this be?
The truth is there are ways to enforce rules without being too strict. While
it’s important to establish trust and communication with students, it’s also
important to bring structure and organization to the classroom. Having fair
expectations of students ensures they learn how to prioritize, manage their
time and listen attentively. A great teacher imposes rules and makes demands of
their students, but in a way that is not intimidating. Having structure in the
classroom does not have to include being overly strict, and over time students
appreciate the value of discipline.
One of the truest marks of a great teacher is the ability to
bring out the best in students. A great teacher recognizes their students’
potential to become great people, and they inspire them to be just that.
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