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A great teacher Interacts with the child (physically, and mentally) A great teacher gives affection to the pupils,

makes them understand what emotion is. A great teacher smiles to his/her pupils even when they screw him up. A great teacher teaches not only text book materials but also The truth that's happening outside. Practice balanced with theory. A great teacher dedicates him/herself to the job. They made a commitment. Then they have to do it. A great teacher understands that a child is not only a tiny bundle of joy that can cry, smile, laugh. He/she must understand that in front of him stands a true miracle of life.

Yuventius, Jakarta, Indonesia A good teacher is someone who teaches not only with mind, but also with heart. Syanne Helly, East Java, Indonesia A teacher should have 3 essential qualities..... 1. BACK GROUND KNOWLEDGE 2. PROFESSIONAL SKILLS 3. PERSONAL QUALITIES. There is a saying,"GIVE ME A FISH AND I EAT FOR A DAY, TEACH ME TO FISH AND I EAT FOR A LIFE TIME". This must be a philosophy of a good teacher... She/he should be patient and kind, flexibile and resourceful, tolerant and open minded with a good sense of humour. Enthusiastic and enjoys teaching. should be honest, imaginative and creative. Efficient. Selfdisciplined. Helpful. Humble and modest........ In my opinion teacher should be like this. SHEEBA RAMACHANDRAN, BURAIDHA, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA One who help his students in all respects. He makes his students able to live better life. He teaches students to take decisions in all the conditions. Who is good teacher for his students and also good students for his students and society, having moral character and model for building new good society. Prafull Bhasarkar, Babupeth, Chandrapur, India I think that a good teacher should be a good and complete person: curious, passionate, interested about their pupils' interests, wishes, feelings... A really good teacher should be child in his soul which mean, creative, imaginative and ready for exploration etc.

Mirjana Kazija, Rijeka, Croatia I was graduated as a teacher of english in Albania.What really makes a very good teacher is having a lot of intuition and intelligence because having these qualities you will have the power to understand your students'phsycology and behaviour and helping them out would be much easier.A teacher should also be super comprensive to understand what's going on in the students'world.And a teacher should the subject that he/she is teaching. Migena Mullaj, Reseda, California, USA

A good teacher makes herself available to all students, however, knows which students need extra assistance. A good teacher is an effective communicator, however, who knows when she needs to change her communicating techniques to be sure students can grasp instructional concepts. A good teacher allows students to ask questions, however, does not answer questions without drawing from other students' learning experience first. A good teacher has classroom rules and procedures which help students know what is expected from them and how the students can help themselves. A good teacher encourages cooperation and sets an example with other students and faculty. A good teacher is flexible and able to change lessons "spur of the moment" in order to accommodate the needs of her students. A good teacher respects all students and encourages good performance.

Marie Garcia, Oyster Bay, NY, USA A great teacher can be defined by two simple words. Best friend. Who better to trust than a best friend? Who better to love and be loved in return than a best friend? Who better to gain knowledge from, than a best friend? Finally, who better to remember throughout the days of your life, than a best friend? Let's all be teachers, shall we? Marco Melendez, San Angelo, Texas, USA

A teacher must have motherly love with their students (Means he should be a mother in the school). He must have Moral character and honesty. He must be well prepared with his subjects.

He must have a good knowledge of his subjects. Physically and mentally fit for the job. He should be active and smart in the classroom. While teaching he should use so many support materials. The support material should be prepared himself. The pupils should be joyful in the class.

Laxman Wadgire, Yavatmal, Maharashtra, India A good teacher of children understands childhood in an engaging way. She understands that childhood culture is more universal than adult culture, and therefore easier to engage with any place any time. KUKUBO BARASA, NAIROBI, KENYA Everybody will have their own opinion on this because it is impossible to please everybody at the same time. It is very difficult to say what a good teacher is when I am still a student and have seen my share of what a teacher should do. I think that the qualities that a teacher should maintain are the abilities to relate to their students on their on level, make learning fun and easy to understand, be nice so students will listen, make the kids look forward to entering the classroom, and above all.... maintain control. Katie, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.A. "When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece" (Ruskin) It is fundamental that a teacher cares about humanity in general. Once we love, enjoy and appreciate the individuality of each and every child in our classroom - everything else falls into place. A good teacher takes cognisance of the fact that they are role models for children remembering that we teach more by what we do than by what we say! This is a challenge for the best of us!!!! Judith Butler, county Cork, Ireland Using his/her heart in teaching,he/she must love children and able to bring satisfaction in learning. Dwi Rahayu, Jakarta,Indonesia A good teacher is someone who can learn from his students, who can learn with them, and for them. He also must be honest in his relationships with students, and proud enough about his own value to work, from there, on helping his students to build their own self esteem. Christian Berger, Santiago, Chile A good teacher is someone who is a learner herself.

Astrid, Perth, WA, Australia One who has no bias, no fixed point of view, open eyes to see and explore life and learning itself, is the best teacher for he is a child too! Ashish, Mumbai, Maharshtra, India I think a good teacher should always show his students the values behind the items he/she is teaching in an exciting and friendly way. Aly AlSabbagh, Cairo, Egypt

I have been reading through this column - "What makes a good teacher?" The qualities mentioned are great, no doubt, but if a little bit more is added to the forum, I believe the teacher will be a model teacher.

The teacher should be loving, know the children personally in order to help them with their problems. Caring and sharing nature will help the teacher to know the children better. Children love and like the teachers more in whom they can confide.

To win their confidence should be the teacher's first aim - though strictness has to be in its place. vinod Bala Jain, Meerut, U.P., India A good teacher represents some of the following qualities:

has to be interested in his own subjects and at the same time openminded for others and other topics. has to be strict, self-confident and show authority, but at the same time he has to be the pupils' "helper" and quite often even something like their friend who they can talk to if problems occur. has therefore to find a balance between him representing an authority or a friend. likes to work with children. enjoys teaching. arrives in time to start a lesson and ends a lesson in time because of good organisation and planning. uses different methods to liven up his lessons and therefore keep his pupils' attention. has to gain the pupils' interest in his subject. conveys information and keeps the pupils' attention. has to be patient.

A good teacher still remains a human being like you and me so that it is obvious that the qualities listed above are useful to keep in mind to be or become a good teacher, but they are only few of the qualities teachers need to "survive" in their everyday life. Birte Schneewei, Dagmar Schulz, Berit Hencke, Kiel, Germany A good teacher needs (besides a lot of other important features) to provide feedback and consequences to students. It makes no sense if a teacher tells a pupil to leave the class five times. Advice can only be useful if they are taken seriously. Apart from that a good teacher, of course, has to be humorous, friendly (but not too friendly), and well prepared for the lessons. And it is important for a teacher to find the right way between passion for his subject and the interests of the class. Thomas Tschirner, Kiel, Germany In brief, a teacher needs self-confidence and knowledge about her subject(s), but the most important thing is that a teacher has to enjoy what she does! She has to be enthusiastic and she has to have a true interest in her pupils!!! Hannah Gunther, Kiel, Germany

A good teacher

has to be patient wants to improve his teaching methods has mastery of his/her subject has to be motivated to give his/her pupil the same interest for the subject that he has has to understand how children act has to remember how it was when he/she was a child Franziska Lindenthal, Kiel, Germany

A good teacher should be friendly and consequently should listen to the pupils and he/she should care for every pupil in the class. Christiane Stroeher, Kiel, Germany

A good teacher is well prepared for every session; knows what and how children/pupils want to learn about his/her subject and is so interested in

pupils behaviour...; a teacher needs to be respected by the pupils as the teacher of the subject and so talk in a firm and gentle voice; has to make pupils feel successful and of course tries to really make them a successful student of his subject; he has to express/radiate his interest to his subject in a way that the pupils can feel it and start feeling the same... Torben Wolgast, Kiel, Germany

A teacher should have various qualities. First of all he/she should love to be a teacher and fond of his/her subjects. He/she should be patient with his/her students and be able to explain the subject matter to them well. His/her class should be a mixture of learning by doing and theoretical learning and should be fun as well. A teacher should be a person you can always speak to and be able to give you some advice in case you need help. He/she also needs to be friendly but also a little strict so students pay respect. Claudia Thiel, Kiel, Germany A Teacher must know well about:

psychology of children education psychology his duties and obligations the parental behaviour the methods and techniques of teaching/learning. Besides,he must have up-to-date knowledge of the subjects he is teaching. Sajjad Haider, Islamabad, Pakistan

I want to be a guide for "my children": I want them to look to the world, ask themselves questions, see that they can do something, be surprised and curious to learn, grateful for what they have and have respect for eachother and for others... There are so many things that we can do. Maaike Corteville, Ingelmunster, Belgium

A good teacher is the one who: 1. is a master in the subjects taught. 2. always thinks to improve the teaching techniques. 3. always tries to produce quality students (quality results).

4. does 'needs assessments' to help students meet the requirements. Mohamad Hazawawi Yusof, Perak, Malaysia One who doesn't 'teach' but instead is willing to 'learn' with the child and from the child. The minute one thinks one 'knows' something that very moment he/she doesn't! Vivekananda Roy Ghatak, Gujarat, India

1. A good teacher is the one that takes his/her own initiatives to prepare the students to become valuable assets to his/her own country. 2. A good teacher is the one who cares and is committed to his/her work for the children. 3. A good teacher is the one with a big HEART. 4. A good teacher is the one that provides good coaching for his/her students. 5. A good teacher is the one that has excellent end results. Stanley Ret, Colonia, Yap State FM A good teacher never forgets what it is like to be a learner - vulnerable, anxious and dependent! Remembering this, a good teacher looks at a student and sees "only the soul of a human being". A student is a teacher's equal - both leading each other to grow in knowledge, both learning about 'self' and not playing a power struggle for today, both smiling in satisfaction for a job well done! Susan Sheldon, USA One who is child friendly, caring, kind hearted, humble, patient, who has the fear of God, who is always ready to give a listening ear, who is not jealous (because most teachers are always jealous and envious of their students), a motherly love. I feel there should be a rule and punishment for teachers who maltreat and call children names. Teachers are suppose to be children's best friends instead they are their worst enemies. In fact, some children refuse to go to school because of their teachers. Children are not suppose to learn with fear. I work with a children NGO and they children complain a lot to me about their teachers. Ngozi Ekwerike, Nigeria

A real friend is someone who knows all about you and still he loves you. A good teacher is a good friend. A good teacher is someone who teaches us like children with love. Arif Raza, Pakistan

1. Good teaching is keeping yourself in the shoes of your students. 2. A good teacher should live his/her life in such a way that those who are watching him/her will not be led astray. 3. A good teacher should have a teachable heart. Fe Espiritu, Philippines A good teacher does not dictate what is written on the book or the curricullum. A good teacher shows the whole wide world to the students. Mario Martino Rustan (age 18), Indonesia Today's child will be a man of tomorrow. Teachers must be a symbol of kindness and love. Zahid Shah, Pakistan I think a good teacher must guide the student throughout his needs, both textual and personal. He should love, serve and honour the child. Amritanshu, India A good teacher is like a loving parent... fair, respectful, flexible and able to bounce back after even the gravest challenges. Enitan Mason, USA A good teacher means someone who plays a role as children's mate in learning, and she/he should be someone who thinks and acts at the best of her/his children's view and growth. Linda Ivonne, Indonesia A good teacher is one who challanges her students to be all that they can be. from Barbara Murphy, USA Everyone in the world is a teacher in a sense. We all teach something to someone at one point in our lives. However, some of us succed to be great teachers. I believe this happens when a teacher believes in the power of education. When you teach with the certitude that everyone can learn from you. When the student does not learn the way the teacher teaches, then the good teacher teaches the way the student learns.

Ana Laura Garcia Gutierrez, Special Education Teacher, Mexico

1. A good teacher must be prepared to be foolish if that will help his pupil attain wisdom. 2. A good teacher, like the good shepherd, must "lay down his life" (sacrifice all) so that the pupil can be solidly grounded in wisdom and understanding. 3. A good teacher derives absolute satisfaction from seeing his pupil contribute to making life more meaningful to fellow human beings. 4. A good teacher is always willing to learn from (and of) his pupil. 5. A good teacher sits at his pupil's feet tirelessly. 6. A good teacher disciplines himself before anyone else. Ruth Agamah, Nigeria

A good teacher is someone who will do everything in their power to make every child feel loved and sucessful in some way because all children learn differently and are their own unique individuals. Mary Kalix, USA A good teacher must be patient, with gentle but firm voice, can go down to the level of his pupils and willing to learn from them. from Regina Z. Ubana, Philippines

To be a good teacher, it is fundamental:


to feel like a child to think like a child to act like a child to reason and react as an understanding adult, remembering that one has once been a child, and it's time to revive that child from Oscar Pacheco

A good teacher must first have been a good student. from Deborah Barger, USA "A good teacher is one who can express his\her point of view clearly, who can understand a child's problem, who is ready to help at any time, who

knows what is right and what is wrong. A teacher who is very hardworking and friendly too. Who can light the future of child." from Aruna Hissaria (submit your opinions on what makes a good teacher)

from UNESCO (1996) What makes a good teacher? Paris: UNESCO The teacher is to the students what the rain is to the field. Zaira Alexandra Rodriguez Guijarro, 11, (Mexico) A good teacher should treat all pupils like his own children. He should answer all questions, even if they are stupid. Fatoumata, 11, Chad To become a good teacher, you not only teach the children but you also have to learn from them. Tasha-Leigh, 12, Jamaica A good teacher answers the needs of the pupils and not only the needs of the chosen programme. Omar, 12, Morocco I like a teacher who helps me think and get answers for myself. Bongani Sicelo, 9, Zimbabwe

Others have emphasised the central role of teachers: see Delors, J. (1996) Learning: The Treasure Within Paris: UNESCO Teacher Dale Gordon has written her own manifesto for helping her students learn. http://www.unicef.org/teachers/teacher/teacher.htm Occasionally we need a reminder like this: based on a thorough literature review, Paul Ramsden, a noted researcher on teaching and learning, along with several co-authors offered this description of good teachers. Good teachers are also good learners; for example, they learn through their own reading, by participating in a variety of professional-development activities, by listening to their students, by sharing ideas with their colleagues, and by reflecting on classroom interactions and students achievements. Good teaching is therefore dynamic, reflective, and constantly evolving. Good teachers display enthusiasm for their subject and a desire to share it with their students.

Good teachers know how to modify their teaching strategies according to the particular students, subject matter, and learning environment. Good teachers encourage learning for understanding and are concerned with developing their students critical-thinking skills, problem-solving skills, and problem-approach behaviors. Good teachers demonstrate an ability to transform and extend knowledge, rather than merely transmitting it; they draw on their knowledge of their subject, their knowledge of their learners, and their general pedagogical knowledge to transform the concepts of the discipline into terms that are understandable to their students. Good teachers set clear goals, use valid and appropriate assessment methods, and provide high-quality feedback to their students. Good teachers show respect for their students; they are interested in both their professional and their personal growth, encourage their independence, and sustain high expectations of them.

The description sets the bar high. But it so ably captures the essence of what we should aspire to be and do for our students. Reference, Ramsden, P. D., Margetson, E. M. and Clarke, S. Recognizing and Rewarding Good Teaching. Canberra: Australian Government Printing Services, 1995. Student Voices: What Makes a Great Teacher? The following are students insights shared with faculty during the Student Voices: What Makes a Great Teacher? concurrent session. This panel was one of 10 concurrent sessions sponsored by the Metropolitan State Center for Teaching and Learning at the April 16, 2005 Spring Faculty Conference. Different fonts are used to represent each of the three individual students perspectives regarding three questions about what makes a great teacher. 1. What are some characteristics of a good instructor?

A good instructor has to be likeable. A good teacher is an instructor with a plan. The plan is supposed to take the students from the beginning of the semester to the end, teaching them

all they need to know to succeed in the course. The big part of the plan, in my opinion would be a way to facilitate the learning. A good instructor is one that is ready to know his/her students problems and to go the extra mile to guide them through their difficulties. It should be easy to trust an instructor because they represent more than their subject matter in front of every class.

-Enthusiasm for teachingdesire to see students succeed (believes in students ability)positive attitude and confident and knowledgeable about subject

-Willingness to learn from students to some degreeinvites questions and constructive criticism; honest; recognizes that each student learns differently

-EX. Teacher expects student to be on the same page when he/she is actually not explaining the lesson in a language student can understand. Teacher couldnt understand why student didnt get italthough no intentional Im sure, I felt the girl was intimidated by the fact she couldnt just get it and move on...teacher need to validate, affirm the students questions and feedback and realize it could actually be the teachers style that is preventing the student from grasping a concept

- Engaging, for instance, when student raises a question, teacher acknowledges it and tries to answer as best he/she can without losing focus from lesson

+Ex. Teacher stopped lesson to acknowledge a students questionthe teacher thanked the student for his question and told him he was already ahead of her she made a point of praising the students question and assured him that his question would be addressed in the lesson shortly, but encouraged him to ask again if she did not answer it satisfactorily...

For me, a teacher is someone who is passionate about that they do. Someone who teaches for the art of teaching; someone who enjoys passing on the knowledge they possess. It's not a job for them, it's for the love enlightening someone else's life with knowledge.

A person who feels comfortable in a classroom setting. Someone who knows that every moment in the classroom is a learning moment and they project a guise, a "game face" that is geared towards learning.

Someone who is knowledgeable about their topic and can teach it in a way that makes it interesting to the students.

A person who encourages questions and frequently asks us if we have any questions.

Someone who can easily insert humor into their presentation and roll with the punches.

A person who can create a "we" environment, a teacher that knows their are a part of our learning process. Someone who understands this teaching/learning process is like a dance, both have to "flow" together to make it properly work.

Someone who is prepared, someone who walks in, on time, with an agenda and is ready to enlighten us with their wit and knowledge. They understand they're on stage.

2. What do students want from their teachers?

I would want guidance from my teacher. I need a teacher to set up a plan, follow the plan and advice the students on how to follow the script to the end of the semester. An instructor encourages questions and treats them with respect.

-For instructors to have a clear focus on where the class is headed. i.e., goals are, expectations

-To feel like instructor sees them as an equal; student is not a blank slate but has a contribution to makesee the whole person not just students ability do meet course expectations..

-Prepared to adjust somewhat according to students needs

-Believes in success for each student; encourages an interactive atmosphere...i.e., questions, feedback

-Respects students time (well organized and prepared for lesson) and shows a mutual respect

This is actually my first year at Metro and the Spring semester is my first time taking credits in the classroomall other learning has been online (started in Fall 2003)

+ EX. Best online course has been my current Int. Cul. Comm: most interactive online course Ive takenteacher responds to emails in a timely fashion, made a clear syllabus and updates bulletin board

frequentlyenforced due dates, but took into consideration students unique circumstances i.e., trouble w/ internet/computer, my Belize trip, etc. Teacher has broad base of knowledge in online learningunderstands the virtual classroom

-Ex Previous online classes I felt like it was more of an Independent study as opposed to a virtual classroom. It was hard to get teacher feedback for assignments technology is partly to blame, howeverproblems submitting papers, taking test, etc felt sometimes that the online class was not the teachers first prioritylike I was really a virtual student Some teacher are not trained in teaching online coursesI dont know how teachers are trained or not trained for teaching an online course, but I think with all the changes and innovations there is in technology, teachers of the virtual classroom should have training that is ongoing so they can keep up with the times

Someone who is interested in why I want to know this information. A teacher that is interested in my career and my future and gives earnest thought into how I can apply this information towards my goals.

Someone who possesses the ability to paraphrase the information they're teaching as to help me better understand the content.

A person who can "mix-up" the teaching process and not just lecture out of the book.

Again, someone who is passionate about what they're teaching. I once had a world religions instructor who taught the major religions but was passionate about the beliefs in remote places such as a South American jungle.

I would also like someone who is honorable, a person who has a high standard of integrity and keeps their word. A person who has papers graded when they say they're going to have them done.

3. What do you want a teacher to tell you on the first day of class?

I will like to hear my instructor introduce himself and give me a reason why I should respect him/her as a teacher (establish his credibility), without coming out corky. He then sets a plan for the semester and tells us how the plan would work till the end of the semester. It is also essential that he states his expectations.

-How important it is to stay on top of things during the week, even though the class only meets once per weekeasy to let deadlines creep upstress the importance of making a plan/timetable for yourself

-Outlines realistic expectations what we will get out of the coursewhat teacher expects from students

-Make it clear what grades will be based on and follow through with that

-EX. Teacher read syllabus but often did not follow throughfor example, teacher talked about quizzes as being part of the gradingmultiple time teacher would assign a section to study for a quiz the following week, but when the week rolled around, the teacher always forgot about giving the quiz.left me frustrated because I would spend a lot of my time during the week studying for the quizzes9/10 times! Also confused as to what my

grade was based onteacher asked me why I didnt come to class much and I looked at him, dumbfounded, and said Id been here every class except for one, which I told him aboutattendance was another thing were graded on ??

-Like it when teacher builds a good relationship with students right awaymakes them feel like it is important they are there

+ EX. 1st day of class teacher had an outgoing, enthusiastic disposition teacher addressed students apprehensions/attitudes towards the course: just required for degree vs. being intimidated by the class itselfencouraged/challenged students at the same timewhich inspired me/motivated to give my best effort. Teacher pointed out how unique our class was in that we listened respectfully during introductions could hear a pin drop and she pointed out we had potential to achieve as a group and excel individually inspired me to contribute something useful

I want an instructor to explain the syllabus in detail. To tell us what is expected of us and what we can expect of them.

I want the teacher to have some type of exercise where we can learn about the other students in the class. I feel a portion of the college experience is networking with other students so ten years down the line we may have some contacts in other businesses.

It's nice to know what kind of flexibility the teacher has regarding deadlines, attendance and how we can make contact with them.

I would also like to know what makes the teacher qualified to teach this subject; some history about their lives and what lead them to the classroom.

I also think it's great to be let out early on the first night. Top 11 traits of a good teacher

by Alan Haskvitz "Some say that my teaching is nonsense. Others call it lofty but impractical. But to those who have looked inside themselves, this nonsense makes perfect sense. And to those who put it into practice, this loftiness has roots that go deep." -- Lao-Tzu, First, there is no hard and fast list that tells you who is a good teacher or who is not a good teacher. However, there are traits that excellent teachers have in common. These are not the usual qualities such as being a good friend or having a nice personality. These are what researchers from around the world have found when they watched those teachers whose students excelled once they left that teacher's classroom. Of course, not every teacher is going to be a skillful teacher for every child and a child spends only about 8 percent of the year in school, which means that regardless of the quality of teacher, a supportive home environment is essential to excellent learning. 1. Be unsatisfied The first trait of a high-quality teacher is that he or she is a good learner. They are always eager to learn new things, expand their knowledge base, experiment with better ways to achieve success. They are lifelong learners and they produce lifelong learners. So, the first trait is to be unsatisfied with what is. In other words, the best teacher is always a student. 2. High expectations High expectations are the second trait of outstanding teachers. I once had a principal who said having high expectations created failure. In other words, the principal did not want to set high goals for fear of parent complaints. In reality, setting high standards brings out the best in students and creates in them a feeling of accomplishment. They become self-reliant, learn to delay gratification, and fit more readily into adulthood where competition is inevitable. High standards are not impossible standards. Setting high expectations may require making the student uncomfortable, much like taking the training wheels off a bicycle. In other words, good teachers encourage risk taking and accept errors.

3. Create independence Thirdly, highly effective educators are adept at monitoring student problems and progress. They remediate when necessary and differentiate as needed. To do this they use their time well. They are not the center of the classroom. The students are encouraged to look for help and answers on their own. They are passionate about not teaching, but facilitating learning. As such, they are promoting their own obsolescence. Just as a fine manager has a team in place that can operate well without him or her, a good teacher creates in a student a sense of self that lasts a lifetime. They promote a deeper understanding of concepts and work habits than just learning the curriculum suggests. In other words, they create independence. 4. Knowledgeable Fourth, they possess a deep knowledge of the subject matter and are able to manipulate, simplify, and individualize this data more easily because they are a master of it. To gain this they are not just hard workers, but have a passion for the subject. They are able to empathize with students who might not like that subject and turn that lack of enthusiasm around by presenting the facts from a different angle. In other words, their bumper sticker reads, "This teacher stops for new ideas." 5. Humor Fifth, first-class teachers have a good sense of humor. They make jokes and accept jokes. They are not comedians, but they are entertaining. They tell stories, point out silly things, bring joy to difficult situations, and are not afraid of laughter. They use humor to connect to their students. In other words, excellent teachers keep the students' attention without fear. 6. Insightful The sixth trait is to provide quick and accurate assessment of student work. Tests and other projects are evaluated in a timely manner. The student work may not be filled with red marks or gold stars, but it is returned with the understanding of what was right and what could be improved. Without constant evaluation a learning child cannot make the progress of a student who is guided. A helpful teacher does not discourage original thinking, but it must be proven. At all times, the best educator is looking for the student's reasoning, rather than the answer. In other words, for the insightful teacher, student assessment assesses the teacher's performance and provides ideas of what changes both need to make to improve. 7. Flexible Seventh, the best teachers use the community as their resource. They see education as more than what is done in the classroom. They belong to civic groups, participate in organizations, and use their contacts to enhance

student learning. For example, they bring in guest speakers, seek donations from the community as needs arise, and allow their students to display their work for the citizenry to critique and enjoy. They use technology as an extension of the community and find new resources to make their lessons more attractive. They use a newspaper and current events to open a child's mind to what is happening in the world and at all times they search for a teachable moment (any instance where a child expresses an interest in something that could be used to stimulate their learning). This includes both negative and positive items and is the main reason lesson plans are never mentioned as a trait of good teaching. Superior teachers abandon them to follow more encouraging leads. This is why educators and education is so misunderstood by those who feel children are cans of soup, all alike and open, ready for knowledge to be poured in and sealed. Excellent teachers encourage student input and use the community to make for more invigorating teaching. In other words, a quality instructor is a master of flexibility. 8. Diverse Eighth, a first-rate teacher provides an array of methods to learn. They integrate the lessons among several subjects; they use research papers, artwork, poetry and even physical education as part of the learning process. For example, when a child is studying an explorer the teacher shows them how many miles per hour they walk, how to create a graph of the calories they would need, make a map of the trip with legend, write a journal of what they saw, draw pictures of the flora and fauna, and make a presentation of what the student felt was the best and worst part of the discovery. In other words, the proficient educator offers children a diverse array of avenues to pursue excellence. 9. Unaccepting Ninth, a quality teacher is unaccepting. They do not accept pat answers. They do not accept first drafts. They do not accept false excuses. They are not the easiest teachers because of this trait. Education is, in essence, the disciplining of the mind. A student who knows the rules knows what to expect and knows what is right. The best teachers are those that have appropriate standards and that build good habits. In other words, a superior teacher understands what a child needs now and in the future. 10. Unconforming The tenth, and perhaps most interesting trait, is that a quality teacher keeps children off balance. The student is not bored, but challenged. When a child who has a skillful teacher comes home, they talk about what they did in class. They are riled up, they are motivated, and they know they need to be ready for the unexpected. A high-quality teacher can be dressed up in

an outfit, show a video, take them to the library, have them work on a project, create lessons for one another, work on a computer, proofread a classmate's work, and invent a game to play at recess, all before noon. One day is seldom like the next. There is continuity, but diversity is everywhere. 11. A communicator Of note is that not one research paper said a trait of good quality teachers were their bulletin boards, tidy rooms, easy grades, ability to write neatly or dress well. All the traits dealt with the ability to trigger learning, and thus the most important trait of all is the ability to communicate. Are you "born to teach?" The best teachers share a unique set of qualities, such as:

a desire to educate young people and act as a positive role model an ability to work with students from diverse backgrounds and abilities interest in helping people learn enthusiasm about a subject strong interpersonal and organizational skills the ability to work unsupervised creativity, energy and patience

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