A good teacher may make a significant difference in a student’s life, influencing anything from classroom learning to long-term achievement. If you’re thinking about a career in teaching or want to advance your profession with a Master of Education (MEd), you should research how to be a good teacher.
According to Economic Policy Institute research, effective teachers are the single most essential element influencing student accomplishment in the classroom, outweighing buildings, school resources, and even school leadership.
According to an AEA research, changes in teacher quality have a favorable influence on everything from the level of institutions students attend to students’ future earnings, the quality of their neighborhood, and even their future participation rates in 401k savings programs.
How to Be a Good Teacher? Top 16 Qualities of a Good Teacher
To be a good teacher boost the academic performance of every student. A student who has a good teaching skill will ever remain important in every student heart. Being a student that listen to students and guide them when needed is what makes you a good teacher. So we are going to be looking generally at how to be a good teacher in this post, so read on.
1. Good Teachers Are Strong Communicators.
Strong communication skills are required for effective teaching if you want to know how to be a good teacher, according to Dr. Daniel Tanguay, senior assistant dean of faculty and education programs.
Tanguay began his career as a high school math teacher, and he claims that many of his pupils came to him fearful of arithmetic, disheartened by previous experiences, and too overwhelmed to approach the subject enthusiastically.
Tanguay said his pupils were able to approach math in a more engaging way that better supported their learning by speaking with them at the beginning of the year about how math pertains to their favorite hobbies, sports, and potential occupations.
“I’m a great believer in all means of communication,” he remarked. “Communication is a strategy for conquering fear as a leader.”
2. Good Teachers Listen Well.
Great communication does not end when the instructor finishes speaking. One of the most critical talents for a teacher is the ability to listen properly.
“Teachers who are skilled at 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,” says one teacher “Kristine Ducote, a student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, agreed.
According to Latricia Maddox, a business student, strong listening skills can assist a teacher better understand their pupils and personalize classes to target them in the way they learn best.
“If an educator can actually hear a kid, they will be able to learn how to reach them where they are,” she stated. “By doing so, they will be able to accept and learn the lesson that is being presented.”
3. A good Teachers Concentrate on Collaboration.
Working in school implies that you are never completely alone. Working as a teacher typically entails working well in a group, from paraprofessionals and teaching assistants to other classroom instructors and school officials. It is also critical to have an open mind and learn from different instructors.
Tanguay believes that the capacity to collaborate is essential for success in this type of workplace. “In order to work well, you actually need to be able to play many positions,” he stated. “You don’t need to participate if you already have someone on your team who will be the one to assess all of the proposals presented. Instead, perhaps you should be the one who comes up with fresh ideas. That adaptability is required.”
4. Good Teachers Are Adaptable.
Effective instructors must be able to operate in a continually changing environment and modify their teaching techniques based on their students’ ages, available resources, and changing curriculum, practices, and standards.
Dr. Audrey Rogers, SNHU education professor and on campus undergraduate program head, has been teaching since the 1980s and has witnessed great changes in the education profession, notably with the development in access to the internet, computers, and other technologies. What will education look like in another 30 years? Change, according to Rogers, is the only constant.
“Change is a given,” she remarked. “Learning to adapt and modify has been one of the most useful talents in my profession.” It’s about staying on top of who my kids are throughout time, as well as all the trends, standards, and new research, and being able to continuously improve.”
Adaptability is also one of the main abilities required for a teacher who may be instructing kids of diverse grade levels or learning styles, according to Tanguay.
“You must be able to adjust dependent on your audience,” he explained.
5. Good Teachers Are Engaging.
Tanguay believes that being able to engage kids with humor, inventive teachings, and a strong classroom presence is a crucial component of what makes someone a successful teacher.
“If you were to imagine the type of teacher you’d want in your life, even today, you’d want someone who is really engaging in front of the classroom,” he added. “A competent teacher would put on a show for their students to keep them motivated… It’s not about sitting back and preaching; it’s about becoming involved in the job.”
Tanguay believes that an engaging teacher will differ based on grade level and topic content.
In kindergarten, an engaging teacher may be one who gets down on the floor with their kids to undertake activities at their level. In high school, an engaging teacher is one that thinks outside the box, incorporates humor into their lessons, and finds innovative ways to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom.
6. Good Teachers Show Empathy.
Tanguay said that another essential to engaging pupils and boosting their learning is to treat each student as a person by being empathic and understanding of what is going on in their life.
“We need to take a step back and consider what could be going on in this student’s life,” he added. “It’s critical to be vigilant, attentive, empathic, and to maintain a cheerful attitude at all times.”
Rhonda Garrison is in charge of the text. Garrison, Rhonda According to Rhonda Garrison, a student in SNHU’s psychology department, empathy and understanding from a teacher may not only assist that instructor connect with a student, but it can also have a direct influence on a student’s learning in the classroom.
“What may be simple for one student may be difficult for another,” she explained. “Everyone learns differently, whether quickly or slower than average, whether by writing, reading, or hands-on experience.” Teachers must continually keep this in mind and pay great attention to guarantee that each student is on the right road.”
7. A Good Teachers Have Patience.
Your patience will be challenged as an educator, regardless of the grade level you teach.
Patience is one of the most crucial qualities to cultivate as a teacher, whether you’re managing classroom behavior, working with colleagues who have opposing viewpoints, or sharing student difficulties or progress with parents.
“Most of the time, you have to be more patient with the parents than you do with the children,” Tanguay added. “Parents are coming in with their impressions of what happened to them as students or earlier events that may have harmed their child… You must be patient and understanding with them.”
8. Good Teachers Value Real-World Learning.
Teachers who apply their pupils’ learning in real-world situations are frequently the most engaging. However, instructors must also use their own learning in the classroom.
Rogers believes that giving education students plenty of classroom experience early in their degree programs is one of the finest ways to prepare them for effective teaching.
This preparation involves embedded curriculum that begins in a student’s freshman year for education majors in SNHU’s on campus program. Once a week, they visit a local school to interact with teacher partners and implement their skills in the classroom. According to Rogers, a year-long student teaching experience is also a strong strategy to ensuring that soon-to-be teachers have the opportunity to perfect their teaching abilities.
“Our children have the benefit of witnessing the actual application (of) what they’re studying right now,” she added.
9. Good Teachers Share Best Practices.
One of the most crucial attributes of a successful teacher, according to Rogers, is a willingness to share information and experiences with others.
Education is a hands-on discipline that sometimes necessitates classroom experimentation to determine which techniques of communication with pupils work best. According to Rogers, part of being a great teacher is sharing your insights and best practices with others in the industry.
“I often ask my pupils, ‘What is your contribution?'” she says. “Are you daring enough to tweet about your ideas for integrating technology in the classroom?” Your desire to share your experience, have an open door, be transparent, and be watched is a vital component of your teaching.”
10. Good Teachers Are Lifelong Learners.
One of the most important qualities of a successful teacher is a commitment to ongoing education and a passion of learning.
Jennifer Gardner is in charge of the text. Gardner, Jennifer
Whether you’re studying more about your topic area, trying out new communication strategies, or looking into ways to incorporate more technology into your classroom, continuing to extend your own knowledge is critical to expanding that of your students.
“The finest professors are those who are passionate about their topics and have a strong desire to learn.” “said Jennifer Gardner, a mathematics student pursuing a bachelor’s degree. “They must also want to pass on their expertise.”
According to Ducote, it is critical for instructors to never feel as if they have learnt everything and to stay open to new experiences.
“No matter your degree of education, you can learn something from everyone you meet, even fellow educators and kids,” she remarked. “Being ready to constantly add tools to your toolbox, even if they are odd at times, will keep things fresh and entertaining while also providing you with exceptional abilities.”
11. A good teacher instills confidence
Todd Whitaker, a middle school teacher, describes poor student confidence as one of the most constant barriers to any teacher’s success in his book 50 Ways to Improve Student Behavior. He deconstructs a troubling trend:
- Many kids do not feel their teachers believe in them.
- Many pupils do not believe their parents believe in them.
- Many pupils do not feel any adult believes in them.
- As a result, many students do not believe in themselves.
- Students who do not believe in themselves have greater behavioral and academic issues.
If the conclusion of the final argument is evident, the converse should be equally so: If pupils who do not believe in themselves struggle in the classroom, those who do will be better suited to achieve academically.
Teacher skills to build student confidence
Make learning more purposeful: Set specified goals with your pupils at the start of the school year or even at the beginning of each lesson, and the entire class will have a greater sense of its individual and collective successes. Make definitive comments about the day’s learning goals to make learning more goal-oriented. For example, begin a lesson with a statement like “today you will learn the first step of multiplication” and end with “Congratulations! You’re now ready to show your parents that you’re learning to multiply!” Cultivating this mindset allows pupils to gain confidence in their own development, which improves learning outcomes and motivation.
Develop a development mindset: A fixed mentality, according to psychologist Carol Dweck, views student talents as rigid and inflexible. A growth mindset, on the other hand, sees student learning as fluid and evolving and strives to enhance children’s abilities and talents through effort and persistence. According to Dweck, the growth mindset helps pupils become more responsive to learning and criticism. While pedagogical subtleties might be subtle, some popular approaches to develop a growth attitude include activities as easy as encouraging students to elaborate their replies more frequently or using success folders.
Reassure your pupils vocally: If you want a student to believe in himself, “then genuinely tell him that you believe in him, that you will not give up on him, that you understand his challenges, and that you are there for him,” says primary teacher Todd Whittaker. Far too many teachers fail to inform and show their students that they are believed in.” It’s easy to lose sight of the power of just comforting and encouraging your pupils orally to create confidence in their talents among the numerous research-driven discussions on pedagogy and teaching tactics.
Use EdTech to your advantage: The majority of instructors agree that educational technology is an effective teaching tool: According to a Joan Ganz Cooney Center poll, almost 80% of K-8 classroom instructors agreed that digital games had “enhanced student knowledge of curricular content.” Using instructional technology in the classroom makes it simpler to teach kids from a variety of learning backgrounds, allowing teachers to draw even the most shy children out of their shells. Use curriculum-aligned learning games like Prodigy to keep students engaged in lessons and help them learn more effectively.
12. A good teacher manages the classroom effectively
A teacher can be well-informed, well-prepared, and even an excellent communicator, yet still fail due to an inability to deal with misbehavior in the classroom. Classroom management refers to all of the tactics used by teachers to organize and arrange students, learning materials, space, and classroom time in order to enhance the efficiency of teaching and learning. This allows children to benefit from an organized, structured setting with an emphasis on a good educational environment favorable to learning.
13. A good Teacher is prepared
Every day, an effective teacher arrives at class ready to teach. “Organizing time and preparing materials in advance of instruction have been identified as [among] the most critical parts of good teaching,” argues James Stronge in his renowned book Qualities of Effective Teachers. However, “preparation” can be a difficult concept to grasp; two professors may have radically different ideas about what defines a properly “prepared” instructor. Consider the action items listed below to help you prepare – and to ensure you feel comfortable addressing your students at the start of each lesson.
14. A competent teacher has high expectations for his or her students.
Effective teachers do not place restrictions on their students. They have high expectations for their pupils, continually challenge them to achieve their best, and are compassionate professionals who educate kids to believe in themselves. As a teacher, you know that you should always demand the best from your pupils and encourage them to learn to the best of their abilities. However, you are aware that doing so on a regular basis might be quite difficult. Fortunately, there are some effective methods for raising standards without exhausting yourself or your pupils.
15. A competent teacher engages in self-reflection.
Teachers, according to a 2010 research on the function of critical reflection in teacher education, “must constantly review and assess their attitudes, behaviors, effectiveness, and successes.” Critical reflection, according to the same research, improves teachers’ knowledge and abilities, as it may help instructors “truly comprehend the ways in which their teaching methods strengthen their ability to question the standard mode of practice” and “determine how they will progress as teachers.” Without reflection, you run the danger of making incorrect judgments, exercising poor judgment, or unquestioningly assuming that pupils will always understand your actions correctly. Without the ability to evaluate your own talents, you may continue to plan and teach on the basis of unquestioned assumptions – and therefore stay unconscious of your greatest strengths and flaws.
16. A competent teacher employs instructional tactics.
Most educators are aware that the traditional, teacher-focused, lecture-style teaching technique may rapidly lead to disengagement and boredom (for both teachers and pupils).
This is where the use of various instructional tactics comes into play. A good teacher “constantly renews himself [or herself] as a professional on his [or her] quest to give pupils with the greatest quality of education possible.” This instructor is not afraid to try new teaching tactics or include new technologies into her classes.”
Conclusion on How To Be A good Teacher
If you want to start a career in education, you need first focus on your own education by learning the qualities of how to be a good teacher. Building a strong foundation of knowledge and real-world experiences is essential to become a successful teacher, whether you’re pursuing a bachelor’s degree in education, an education master’s degree, or even a Doctor of Education (EdD).
No matter where your professional path takes you – whether to an elementary, secondary, or even university level – your teaching may have a great influence on the lives of kids, and your education is the basis for that work.
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