Fifteen Exceptional Things that Great
Teachers Do
Most of us have
had the privilege of having a great teacher. Great teachers go above and beyond
to ensure that each child is successful. Many of us have had that one teacher
that inspired us more than any other. Great teachers are able to bring the best
out of every
student. They are often energetic, fun, and seemingly always at the top of
their game. Their students look forward to coming to their class each day. When
they are promoted to the next grade, they are sad that they are leaving, but
armed with the skills necessary to be successful.
Great teachers
are rare. Many teachers are capable, but there are a select few who are more
than just capable. They are innovators, communicators, and educators. They are
compassionate, endearing, charming, and funny. They are creative, smart, and
ambitious. They are passionate, personable, and proactive. They are dedicated,
continuous learners who are gifted in their craft. They are in a sense the
total package.
So what makes
someone a great teacher? There is not a single answer. Instead, there are
several things that great teachers do. Many teachers do a few of these things,
but the great teachers consistently do them all.
A
great teacher is prepared. Preparation takes a lot of time.
Great teachers spend a lot of time outside of the school day preparing for each
day. This often includes weekends. They also spend countless hours during the
summer working to improve their craft. They prepare detailed lessons,
activities, and centers each designed to maximize student learning
opportunities. They create detailed lesson plans
and often plan for more in a day than they typically can complete.
A
great teacher is organized. Being organized leads to
efficiency. This allows great teachers minimal distractions and maximizes
instructional time. Increasing instructional time will lead to an increase in
academic success for students. Organization is about creating an efficient
system to find resources and other materials quickly which a teacher needs.
There are many different organizational styles. A great teacher finds the
system that works for them and makes it better.
A
great teacher is a continuous learner. They
continuously read and apply the newest research in their classroom. They are
never satisfied whether they have taught for one year or twenty. They seek out
professional development opportunities, research ideas online and subscribe to
multiple teaching related newsletters. Great teachers are not afraid to ask
other teachers what they are doing in their classrooms. They often take these
ideas and experiment with them in their classroom.
A
great teacher adapts. They recognize that each school day and each school year
is different. What works for one student or one class may not work for the
next. They continuously change things up to take advantage of individual
strengths and weaknesses within a classroom. Great teachers are not afraid to
scrap entire lessons and start back over with a new approach. They recognize
when something is working and stick to it. When an approach is ineffective,
they make the necessary changes.
A
great teacher evolves. They are constantly changing and never become stale. As
trends change, they change with them. They grow each year they teach always
improving across multiple areas. They are not the same teacher from year to
year. Great teachers learn from their mistakes. They look to improve upon what
has been successful and find something new to replace what has been not worked.
They are not afraid to learn new strategies, technologies,
or implement new curricula.
A
great teacher is proactive. Being proactive can stave off a lot
of potential problems including academic, discipline,
or any other issue. It can prevent a small concern from turning into an
enormous problem. Great teachers recognize potential problems immediately and
work to fix them quickly. They understand that the time put into correcting a
small problem is considerably less than it would be if it ballooned into
something bigger. Once it becomes a large issue, it will almost always take
away from valuable class time.
A
great teacher communicates. Communication is a critical
component of a successful teacher. They must be adept at communicating with
several subgroups including students, parents,
administrators, support personnel, and other teachers. Each of these subgroups
must be communicated with differently and great teachers are terrific at
communicating with everyone. They are able to communicate so that every person
understands the message they are trying to convey. Great teachers keep people
informed. They explain concepts well and make people feel comfortable around
them.
A
great teacher networks. Networking has become a critical component of being a
great teacher. It has also become easier. Social networks such as Google+, Twitter,
Facebook, and Pinterest allow teachers from all over the world to share ideas
and provide best practices quickly. They also allow teachers to seek input and
advice from other teachers. Networking provides a natural support system with
those who share a similar passion. It provides great teachers with another
means of learning and honing their craft.
A
great teacher inspires. They are able to pull the best out of every student they
teach. They inspire them to become better
students, to maximize their time in the classroom, and to look towards the
future. A great teacher takes an interest a student has and helps turn it into
a passion making educational connections that will potentially last a life
time. They understand that each student is different, and they embrace those
differences. They teach their students that it is those differences that often
make them exceptional.
A
great teacher is compassionate. They hurt when their
students hurt and rejoice when their students rejoice. They understand that
life happens and that the kids they teach do not control their home lives.
Great teachers believe in second chances, but use mistakes to teach life
lessons. They offer advice, counseling, and mentoring when necessary. Great
teachers understand that school is sometimes the safest place a kid can be.
A
great teacher is respected. Respect
is earned over time. It does not come easy. Respected teachers are able to
maximize learning because they do not typically have classroom management
issues. When they have an issue, they are dealt with quickly and in a
respectable manner. They do not embarrass or berate the student. Great teachers
understand you have to give respect before you earn respect. They are
considerable and thoughtful to everyone, but understand that there are
occasions where they must stand their ground.
A
great teacher makes learning fun. They are unpredictable.
They jump into character when reading a story, teach lessons with enthusiasm,
take advantage of teachable moments, and provide dynamic hands on activities
that students will remember. They tell stories to make real life connections.
Great teachers incorporate student interests into their lessons. They are not
afraid to do crazy things that motivate their students to learn.
A
great teacher goes above and beyond. They volunteer
their own time to tutor a struggling student after school or on weekends. They
help out in other areas around school when they are needed. A great teacher is
the first to help a family of a student in need in any way they can. They
advocate for the students when necessary. They look out for each student’s best
interest. They do what it takes to ensure that each student is safe, healthy,
clothed, and fed.
A
great teacher loves what they do. They are
passionate about their job. They enjoy getting up each morning and going to
their classroom. They are excited about the opportunities they have. They like
the challenges that each day presents. Great teachers always have a smile on
their face. They rarely let their students know when something is bothering
them because they worry it will affect them negatively. They are natural educators
because they were born to be a teacher.
A
great teacher educates. They not only teach students the required curriculum,
but they also teach them life skills. They are in a constant state of teaching,
taking advantage of impromptu opportunities that may captivate and inspire a
particular student. They do not rely on a main stream or boxed in approach to
educate. They are able to take a variety of styles and mold them into their own
unique style to meet the needs of the students that they have at any given
time.
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