Who is an excellent teacher

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.

Southern New Hampshire University SNHU education faculty and university students shared their thoughts on the qualities that make effective teachers stand out. When it comes to effective teaching, strong communication skills are a must, said Dr. Daniel Tanguay , senior associate dean of faculty and education programs.

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.

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. 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.

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. Instead, maybe you need to be the person who is going to come up with creative ideas. You need to have that flexibility. 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.

Unfortunately, not all students will have the same attention span or the same level of discipline concerning their attitudes and behaviors.

Teachers have to be patient and remember that this is an inevitable part of teaching. By having a strong work ethic, teachers can more effectively become aware of what works and do not work in their specific teaching environment, pertaining to the students.

If something does not seem to be working, teachers must try their best to find a solution that works for the objective of teaching itself. We have engaged with many recruiters of the school. The recruiters observe subtle behaviors to determine whether a person is the right teacher job candidate and suitable for the job.

The actions and expressions during the job interviews reveal the work ethic and attitude. This includes frequently drinking, continually checking the phone, leaning forward too closely or stepping too far away from the webcam , yawning, or other distracting behaviors. Additionally, it is crucial to be punctual and attend both an interview and a virtual class on time.

We recommend that teachers enter the classroom setting at least five minutes prior to starting the lesson. This gives teachers the necessary time to test their equipment and warm up with students who join the classroom setting early. This also means that teachers are expected to end the class when it ends, and not earlier. Teachers are also required to have no absences.

Make sure to watch out for the time zone differences and keep in mind that students are coming from all over the world. Some do not have daylight savings like China, which has only one standard time zone even it technically lay across 4 time zones. Teachers must be good organizers. Being organized plays an essential role in being a good teacher and is a paramount quality of a good teacher.

Without organizational skills, a teacher could really lose grasp of deadlines, expectations, and tasks. Most teachers tend to take notes after their class is completed, with critical points to keep in mind for their next class. This way, a teacher can easily prepare the necessary material for the next lesson and know exactly where they left off. A poor organization could potentially lead to educational waste and a waste of time.

Being an organized teacher means that a teacher knows exactly where his or her students stand and that they are ready to begin the class with lessons that are effective in enhancing student learning. This way, teachers can better inform students of what is expected of them. Preparation is a crucial characteristic of what makes an outstanding teacher.

Preparation goes hand in hand with the organization. It is important for teachers to prepare for their classes beforehand, by reviewing all of the class material that he or she will be presenting. The majority of the online English teaching platforms and teaching jobs abroad listed on OETJobs already have the teaching plan and materials prepared for teachers. Teachers have the ability to preview their class materials in the classroom on the teacher portal.

An excellent teacher urges students to strive for patriotism and incorporates the lessons of brotherhood-devoid of communal or social barriers. No wonder teaching has long been considered to be one of the noblest of all professions. Students are known to talk when unnecessary, argue, slander, and rebel against their educators and, in the most troubled kids, even threaten their teachers.

In the most devoted of teachers, a tic-tac sized comment like this has the impact of the detonation of an Atomic Bomb. So how does one describe an excellent teacher? For example, one crucial opinion would be that of the average academic slacker. How would they define an excellent teacher? Teachers could, perhaps, give examples of a topic from movies. Maybe the teacher is too quiet or, even worse… monotone. An excellent teacher would give their students work that could compare to that of Advanced Placement, but that is not half as steroidal.

For example, it would be an essay with a bit more of a broad explanation of what needs to be explained; something that even the most average of students can understand but it still needs to challenge their knowledge and skills.

Even police officers, firefighters, and social workers are constantly under public scrutiny. Poor student achievement is the subject of school, and the predicates are multiple-choice tests, student engagement, and premade curriculum kits with suggested activities.

The preceding are results of commitment to education. When the question of commitment and teachers is posed, three ideas come to mind. Commitment to an educator is a pledge and promise to help all school-aged children.

There are economical, educational, and social needs that youngsters are not receiving at home. Parents, administrators, and even students openly disrespect schoolteachers today.

There are few stories where teachers could respond to physical and verbal threats. Learning and teaching are connected through good communication. Teaching rather than instructing. A good teacher should be focused on making sure their students truly understand the material, rather than just lecturing and hoping it will compute. Great teachers are concerned with the retention of their students, making sure they really know and can do the work, not just checking off the boxes for the lesson plan.

Great learning comes from teachers who are focused on that comprehension. There are a variety of things that teachers can do to become even better in their profession including:. Having these skills are vital to helping you become a great teacher. Experienced teachers and principals learn how to identify the best candidates for teaching positions quickly ; that makes it essential to embody the qualities of a great teacher not just in the classroom, but throughout job applications and interviews.

WGU can help you prepare for a teaching career by giving you the credentials and skills you need to find success as an educator. And once you have those credentials and skills, you can focus on developing the other traits that will help you have great relationships with your students and become an engaging, caring teacher.

Our focus on your success starts with our focus on four high-demand fields: K—12 teaching and education, nursing and healthcare, information technology, and business.

Every degree program at WGU is tied to a high-growth, highly rewarding career path. Which college fits you? Want to see all the degrees WGU has to offer? View all degrees. By submitting you will receive emails from WGU and can opt-out at any time. We're emailing you the app fee waiver code and other information about getting your degree from WGU. Ready to apply now? January 29, Attending education conferences to help you connect with and learn from other teachers.