BEST TEACHER DESCRIPTION
by
Dr. Glen W. Probst
There are many characteristics, techniques, etc. that make for a successful teacher. These may be as varied as the teachers themselves. However, there are certain time-tested attributes, characteristics, and practices which contribute immensely to teacher success. The following list contains items that students have used to describe their best teachers.
- Enthusiasm
- Students can feel the excitement
- Students easily detect the teacher’s love for job and subject
- Preparation
- Teacher knows the subject
- Teacher plans and prepares lessons daily
- Punctuality
- Always arrives on time
- Begins and ends class on time
- Expects and encourages students to arrive on time
- Support and concern for students
- Lets students know that he/she cares about their success
- Takes time with students
- Allows for creativity
- Is friendly and courteous
- Is supportive and encouraging
- Is smiling, caring and loving
- Consistency
- Does not miss class
- Is consistent in attitude and dealings with students
- Is always well prepared to teach class
- Politeness
- Treats students with respect
- Does not condescend
- Avoids embarrassing students in class
- Firmness and control
- Is firm in a kind manner
- Avoids tangents in teaching
- Does not play favorites
- Provides personal help
- Takes time to explain concept
- Gives individual attention
- Accepts individual differences
- Employs an effective delivery
- Clarifies for understanding
- Creates a sense of fun with the learning task
- Eliminates bad, irritating and/or distracting habits
- Does not make students lose face
- Avoids criticizing students
- Has high expectations of class members
- Is humble
- Is fair
- Uses variety
- Uses a variety of learning activities
- Experiments
- Allows for spontaneity
- Has a sense of humor; is relaxed
- Use of engaged time
- Sets a good pace and provides for a change of pace
- Avoids engaging students in “busy work”
- Use of text
- Is not a slave to the text
- Uses text as a road map
- Keeps within 1-2 days of the scheduled course outline
- Field trips and other activities
- Applies student experiences to classwork
- Does not always teach from a sitting or leaning position
- Interpersonal relationships with students
- Does not allow students to call him/her by first name
- Does not try to win a popularity contest
- Maintains a healthy teacher-student relationship
- Respects students (remember that sometimes what you think is healthy, fun joking with students may be interpreted by them as disapproval and dislike.)
- Does not allow one or two students to monopolize or dominate the class
- Keeps accurate records of
- Work completed
- Attendance
- Test results
- Grades
Additional Suggestions
- Provide for activity changes — perhaps something not on the lesson plan; for example, scrabble, hangman, pictionary.
- Be somewhat unpredictable — Students will not know what comes next. Keep students in some suspense.
- Variety — In teaching, variety provides for renewed interest in the subject matter. Use variety in how you have students work together. Do not always pair the same ones together. Provide for a variety of learning activities. Some suggestions are:
- Assignments
- Brainstorming
- Buzz sessions
- General discussion
- Panel discussion
- Problem-solving discussion
- Music
- Instructional games
- Questioning and quizzes
- Reports and talks
- Role playing
- Worksheets
- Demonstrations
- Dramas
- Storytelling
- General chalkboard use
- Chalkboard illustrations
- Charts and maps
- Displays and mobiles
- Filmstrips
- Flannelboard
- Flashcards
- Motion pictures
- Opaque projections
- Overhead transparency projections
- Pictures, posters
- Tape recordings
- Video tape recordings
- Videodisk recordings
- Videotaping class presentations or activities
- Guest appearances
- Combined activities with another class.
- Instant Involvement — Create a variety of instant involvement techniques that can be used to capture students attention for what will be presented.
- Give eye-to-eye contact.
- Change teaching style for variety.
- Pace — A change of pace is refreshing and helps students re-enter the learning process.
- Change of setting — At appropriate times it is stimulating and interesting to meet in a different location or setting for a specific learning task.
Submitted by : Bindu Sharma
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