What should a teacher be like?

What makes a good teacher?

The answer, like teaching itself, is complicated and multifaceted. It involves more than implementing the right educational learning theories. Even getting a master’s in education doesn’t guarantee that someone will have the characteristics of a good teacher.

A good teacher communicates clearly

Considering that a teacher’s job essentially boils down to sharing information, it’s not surprising that good communication tops the list of important teacher skills.

Depending on who you ask, this quality might go by a different name, like setting clear objectives or showing respect. But, at the end of the day, all of those practices depend on strong communication skills.

So, what does good communication entail exactly? It involves:

• Observing: Teachers need to pick up on nonverbal and verbal cues to understand when a student needs more help or a different approach.
• Listening: Communicating isn’t just talking. Good teachers listen to their students, both in what they say and how they behave.
• Using clear language: Teachers need to be able to read the room and use words and phrases that students can understand and relate to.

A good teacher welcomes feedback

Knowing how to play to one’s audience is critical in many professions. For teachers, it’s doubly challenging, because the kids in a classroom aren’t the only ones who are going to offer feedback. They talk to their friends and their parents; parents talk to each other and to administrators.

A good teacher can improvise

Like any public speaker, teachers understand that things can turn on a dime in the classroom. Even the best-laid lesson plans can suddenly prove insufficient — and kids won’t be bored, Roggeman warns. That means it’s up to teachers to know how to not only break through to kids but fill the time with meaningful lessons