10 Best Qualities Should Have A Good Teacher

I still remember that school day when our new teacher of geography came in, smiling at everyone. After the introduction, she asked the question “What skills should a teacher have?” or “What makes a good teacher great.” Even though it was almost two decades ago, I can still remember the silence in the classroom.

Now, after passing out of university and having a few years as a teacher, I can confidently answer the same question. I am obsessed with this question because it’s all about teachers making a difference in the lives of their students. If I personally evaluate my success and failures, I know that it’s because of the teachers or mentors that I’m here and have come so far in life.

A teacher’s personality, behaviour, attitude, and interaction with students deeply influence and shape the future of a student. Teachers must possess certain skills, qualities, and knowledge to inspire and make a positive impact on their students.

Remember, teaching is not a profession, it’s a privilege and honour. Teachers are the backbone of a successful learning system and society’s progress. Teachers are the nation’s builders because they play a central role in building future generations. So, let’s answer the question “What skills should a teacher have?” to make a brighter future for generations..

What Skills Should A Teacher Have?

1) What The Teacher Is, Is More Important Than What He Teaches:

Students learn more from a teacher’s actions and attitude than just the knowledge he/she communicates. A great teacher is like a role model for students who encourage them beyond their comfort zone and makes them believe in themselves. Their personality, attitude, character, behaviour, and empathy play a more significant role than what they teach.

The Enthusiasm he/she possesses not only makes the subject interesting but the whole learning process too. Remember, students first skim what the teacher looks like and then learn from him/her. Well, looks are not all about dressing, it’s also about being genuine, confident, passionate, and enthusiastic about teaching.

So, it’s a skill that must be honed to be a great teacher. Being a teacher you are not just teaching individuals you are planting the seeds of your society’s future. Whether these seeds will grow into a stable, strong, and reliable pillar of your society or weaken it, will depend on your teaching skills.

2) A Great Teacher Is A Listener Not A Speaker

Did you ever try to deeply listen to your students, their thoughts, and ideas without interrupting them or giving opinions? Believe me, this is one of the most incredible skills of great teachers.

A great teacher is a listener, not just a speaker. He puts himself in the student’s shoes and tries to understand their language. Remember, students have their own language, so understanding and talking with them in their language is very important. Without listening deeply, you cannot understand their language. Plus, you would be unable to create an atmosphere of trust and bond with your students without listening.

A great teacher always listens to students and not just giving lectures. Listening is a skill that must be mastered to be a great teacher.

3) A Great Teacher Is Chill

Most of the time during class something happens which is out of your control or expectations. In such situations, a great teacher can stay cool without getting overwhelmed. They don’t take it too seriously and use the situation as an opportunity to teach something new or entertain the whole class.

This creates an atmosphere of fun and joy in the classroom which makes the students more engaged and attentive. Plus, they don’t panic or get frustrated when their students don’t understand the concept or lessons.

A great teacher finds innovative ways to explain the same thing in different ways till the student gets it.

4) A Great Teacher Loves To Learn With Students

Let’s recall your school moments when your teacher pretends like they don’t know the answers or forget about it. As you saw your teacher struggling, you started researching and discovering the answers on your own. Imagine the thrill you felt when you found it.

This is what great teacher does; they love to learn with their students. They do not restrict themselves from learning with their students. Not only does this help teachers learn better but also develops a sense of exploration in students.

Students also experience this fact in reality that learning is important and there is no limit to it. So, to be a great teacher, you must be passionate to learn with your students.

5)A Great Teacher Isn’t In The Classroom

What this phrase is trying to say is that being a great teacher isn’t just restricted to the classroom. Not everything can be learned or taught within the classroom environment. Great teachers take the initiatives to go out of the classroom, visit different places and integrate real-life experiences with learning.

For example, you can’t learn sports in a classroom. You have to go out and play the game to understand its rules, techniques, and strategies. Great teachers understand this concept and take their students out of the classroom.

They have always activities and ideas for students to learn better and understand a concept better by doing it practically.

6) A Great Teacher Makes Learning Entertainment

Think about why you visit concerts or theatres instead of just watching or listening to them in your house. It’s because of live performances. Live performance has its own charm and you can’t get that experience by just watching it at home.

The same goes for students, they need to be entertained while learning. A great teacher creates an environment that is so entertaining and engaging that students forget the fact they are learning something new. They find creative methods to teach a lesson and also make it fun enough for students.

The best teachers don’t just lecture and assign homework; they engage students in creative ways to ensure that lessons are memorable, meaningful, and actually enjoyable. Great teachers also find ways to get their students excited about the topics at hand, so that their passion for knowledge can be shared with each other.

7) Break Learning Into A Variety Of Programs

A variety of programs in teaching methodology refers to having different techniques and approaches to teaching, allowing students to practice the concepts they’re learning differently. For example, starting from brainstorming, then telling a story, sharing a powerful fact, doing an activity, and then asking questions, is one kind of program.

This is how eminent teachers design their lectures by dividing them into a variety of programs. This allows the students to grasp a concept better in various ways and also helps them to apply the concept in real life.

8) A Great Teacher Teaches Through Visuals

Do you listen to the famous saying “A picture is worth a thousand words?” Visual learning plays an important role in teaching. It helps the students to understand complex ideas more simply.

Great teachers always find ways to teach more effectively by using visual aids and tools. They use visuals like drawings, diagrams, charts, or videos to explain a concept. Visuals help the students to connect with the material and stay focused. This helps them to retain more information and remember things for a longer period.

9) A Great Teacher Promotes Student Independence

Great teachers always encourage their students to think independently, take initiative, and be creative. They motivate students to come up with their own ideas and solutions.

They allow students to present and teach the class, so they can learn from each other. Moreover, great teachers provide freedom to their students and don’t box them into restrictive rules or assignments.

They value the individual learning capabilities of every student and provide them with resources to become independent learners.

Read More:

10) A Great Teacher Is Motherly

Do you ever notice that your mother never gives up on you? She is always there to help no matter what. No matter how difficult the situation, she always has an optimistic attitude and will continue to strive for the best.

Similarly, great teachers are like motherly figures in the classroom. They understand their students’ behaviour and try to nurture them with love, guidance, and support. They can connect with their students. Care deeply about their success, not just academically but also emotionally.

Great teachers have the skills to create an atmosphere of trust so that students feel comfortable expressing themselves without fear of judgment or ridicule.

Conclusion:

I would like to conclude the whole discussion of “What skills should a teacher have” with Suze Orman’s quote, “The key to being a good mentor is to help people become more of who they already are- not to make them more like you.” This quote contains a very deep and meaningful concept because mostly in our society our teachers and mentors want us to be like them but that’s wrong.

Being a great teacher means accepting your students’ individuality and helping them become the best versions of themselves, not yours. If you can adopt these skills, then you can become an awesome teacher. In case of NO, please opt for another profession. Being a teacher is not for everyone and that’s okay.

Good luck!

Don’t forget to share your experience about the “What skills should a teacher have?” in the comments whether you are a student or teacher. If you are a student then do must share it with your teachers.

Discover more from Digital Kitab Khana

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.