Striving To Make A Difference: 10 Qualities of a Great Teacher
Over the last couple of decades I have had the honor to be in a role that I believe is one of the most valuable roles one can be in – A TEACHER.
I think a lot about teaching and learning.
As I reflect on my past and the many great teachers who have had a significant positive impact on my life, I considered 10 qualities that I believe make a great teacher and I strive to manifest in my own life as an educator.
10 Qualities of a Great Teacher
1. A great teacher sets high expectations for all their students. They understand that anyone can do exceedingly greater than they think. Great teachers help their students set high level goals that help bring out the best in their students.
2. A great teacher respects his or her students and finds their motivation. The best teachers find a way to love all of their students and empathize with their life circumstances and their knowledge base.
3. A great teacher is accessible, enthusiastic and caring.
4. A great teacher has enthusiasm for his or her subject matter and can make it fun.
5. A great teacher creates a sense of community and belonging in the classroom.
6. A great teacher’s first and highest priority is the learning and maturation of their students. They are in the classroom, on the “front line” of education, and often know what is best for their students.
7. A great teacher teaches curiosity and encourages students to think and express themselves.
8. A great teacher is a role-model and sets an example for students.
9. A great teacher is a leader. Yes, teachers must know their subject matter and must be able to communicate it well. However, a teacher must also be a great leader and inspire students to learn. Learning does not always come easily, and when students truly buy into their teachers or leaders, they are willing to go deeper and are more willing to work harder and engage more.
10. A great teacher is patient and humble. A great teacher demonstrates incredible amounts of patience as students go through their own unique journeys and discoveries. At the same time, a great teacher must be humble. It’s never about them, but it’s always about the students and their quest to learn and to grow as human beings.
If there is one blessing I could grant to all human beings on this Earth, it would be to have at least one incredible teacher along their journey, preferably at an early age. A great teacher not only gets his or her students to learn the content they need to know, but also helps those students with lifelong intangibles like confidence, integrity, hard work, love of learning, curiosity, resiliency and grit.
To conclude, I recommend doing two things…
First, reach out to a teacher that has made an impact in your life and let them know how much you appreciate them. If you feel like you never had an influential teacher like, find one. It’s never too late. As the proverb goes, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. When the teacher is ready, the student will appear.”
Second, it’s also never too late to teach others and pay it forward. All of us have gifts of knowledge and understanding to give to others. I highly recommend looking for opportunities to help others. This will create a virtuous cycle that can only serve to benefit you and the world.
See you in the class room. :)
~ Peter Liciaga
