What are the most important elements of a good teacher?

[Godlovesmetwo]

I'll offer some criteria here but any criteria you think of is fine.

-good at explaining difficult concepts
-encourages every student including slow learners
-good at classroom management and discipline
-good clear voice, easy to listen to
-entertaining
-provides a variety of activities so its not just "chalk and talk"
-challenges students to think for themselves
-really cares about each student as a person, an individual
-very knowledgeable about their subject
-uses humour a lot

 

[brinny]

Patience, a sense of humor, and a joy in teaching.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

Patience, a sense of humor, and a joy in teaching.

Yeah that is what I meant. Just choose the two or three most important for you.

 

[brinny]

Yeah that is what I meant. Just choose the two or three most important for you.

They sorta' came to mind right away, especially patience and a sense of humor.

I agree with many on your list.

 

[musicalpilgrim]

They sorta' came to mind right away, especially patience and a sense of humor.

I needed that this morning with Sam, a cheeky 6 year old piano pupil.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

A passion for their subject really is important I agree. However,the teachers I remember are the ones who validated me as a person. I felt they liked my personality. We need teachers to like us don't we.

 

[brinny]

I needed that this morning with Sam, a cheeky 6 year old piano pupil.

Hahaaaaaaa bless yer heart, sis......praying for Sam and you too

 

[brinny]

A passion for their subject really is important I agree. However,the teachers I remember are the ones who validated me as a person. I felt they liked my personality. We need teachers to like us don't we.

Yes, it kinda' opens our hearts and minds to them....as i think about it, gifted teachers who love what they do, are sorta' "healers" for the hurting, forgotten students.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

Voice is really important too. If we don't like the tone of a teacher's voice, we may just switch off altogether. And when we stop listening............

 

[brinny]

Voice is really important too. If we don't like the tone of a teacher's voice, we may just switch off altogether. And when we stop listening............

Well, that can be true, especially if the subject is not one that the student has an interest in

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

Interestingly I remember a teacher at University who was in the habit of asking "does that make sense?" often. One lesson I decided to count them. 25 in 1 and a half hours! So idiosyncrasies can either be a plus or a minus.

 

[brinny]

Interestingly I remember a teacher at University who was in the habit of asking "does that make sense?" often. One lesson I decided to count them. 25 in 1 and a half hours! So idiosyncrasies can either be a plus or a minus.

Hmmmmm....maybe it depends on why they're asking.....if they're asking habitually, it can become a bit tedious.....on the other hand, the fact that they're asking at all might be a good thing....it gives the students a chance to speak up and say that maybe it doesn't make sense

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

it gives the students a chance to speak up

my impression is that it is a rhetorical device, they don't really want you to say "No it doesn't make one iota of sense!"

 

[brinny]

my impression is that it is a rhetorical device, they don't really want you to say "No it doesn't make one iota of sense!"

...that could be a problem....since some students might take them quite literally because they think they mean it.....

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

hey maybe I'll start adding it to my posts at the end ,as an experiment.
does that make sense?

 

[PloverWing]

I'll offer some criteria here but any criteria you think of is fine.

I like your list -- it sounds just about right.

I'll add one of my own: the ability to quickly figure out what a student does and does not understand, based on a question they've asked or an exercise they've worked out. It took me a long time to develop this one, but it's essential to being able to field in-class questions well.

 

[brinny]

hey maybe I'll start adding it to my posts at the end ,as an experiment.
does that make sense?

No, but it's funny

 

[~Anastasia~]

Many technical abilities are important, but I really think the top two are sincerely caring about your students, and having patience.

Beyond that, the things that have helped me most are figuring out different ways of teaching/learning (a variety of activities, usually) and also being able to see what a student's thinking process is, basically to see what they get, what they miss, and why the disconnect, if there is one (particularly in science and math).

 

[musicalpilgrim]

Hahaaaaaaa bless yer heart, sis......praying for Sam and you too

I appreciate your prayers, I pray for all my students, and 'tune in' to how they learn. At the moment we still 'have fun' with Sam, but he is very clever and will do well as he matures.

Voice is really important though. If we don't like the tone of a teacher's voice, we may just switch off altogether. And when we stop listening............

Soooo true, it has to be an enjoyable lesson, if I enjoy the lesson, and see the light in the pupil's eye, it works;

 

[brinny]

I appreciate your prayers, I pray for all my students, and 'tune in' to how they learn. At the moment we still 'have fun' with Sam, but he is very clever and will do well as he matures.


Soooo true, it has to be an enjoyable lesson, if I enjoy the lesson, and see the light in the pupil's eye, it works;

You are a gifted teacher, sis. Praying for Sam and you too and all your students (((hug)))