What makes a great teacher?

Teaching is one of the most complicated jobs today. It demands broad knowledge of subject matter, curriculum, and standards; enthusiasm, a caring attitude, and a love of learning; knowledge of discipline and classroom management techniques; and a desire to make a difference in the lives of young people. With all these qualities required, it's no wonder that it's hard to find great teachers.

Here are some characteristics of great teachers

Great teachers set high expectations for all students. They expect that all students can and will achieve in their classroom, and they don't give up on underachievers.

Great teachers have clear, written-out objectives. Effective teachers have lesson plans that give students a clear idea of what they will be learning, what the assignments are and what the grading policy is. Assignments have learning goals and give students ample opportunity to practice new skills. The teacher is consistent in grading and returns work in a timely manner.

Great teachers are prepared and organized. They are in their classrooms early and ready to teach. They present lessons in a clear and structured way. Their classrooms are organized in such a way as to minimize distractions.

Great teachers engage students and get them to look at issues in a variety of ways. Effective teachers use facts as a starting point, not an end point; they ask "why" questions, look at all sides and encourage students to predict what will happen next. They ask questions frequently to make sure students are following along. They try to engage the whole class, and they don't allow a few students to dominate the class. They keep students motivated with varied, lively approaches.

Great teachers form strong relationships with their students and show that they care about them as people. Great teachers are warm, accessible, enthusiastic and caring. Teachers with these qualities are known to stay after school and make themselves available to students and parents who need them. They are involved in school-wide committees and activities, and they demonstrate a commitment to the school.

Great teachers are masters of their subject matter. They exhibit expertise in the subjects they are teaching and spend time continuing to gain new knowledge in their field. They present material in an enthusiastic manner and instill a hunger in their students to learn more on their own.

Great teachers communicate frequently with parents. They reach parents through conferences and frequent written reports home. They don't hesitate to pick up the telephone to call a parent if they are concerned about a student.

What No Child Left Behind means for teacher quality

The role of the teacher became an even more significant factor in education with the passage of The No Child Left Behind law in 2002.

Under the law, elementary school teachers must have a bachelor's degree and pass a rigorous test in core curriculum areas. Middle and high school teachers must demonstrate competency in the subject area they teach by passing a test or by completing an academic major, graduate degree or comparable course work. These requirements already apply to all new hires.

Schools are required to tell parents about the qualifications of all teachers, and they must notify parents if their child is taught for more than four weeks by a teacher who is not highly qualified. Schools that do not comply risk losing federal funding.

Although the law required states to have highly qualified teachers in every core academic classroom by the end of the 2005-2006 school year, not a single state met that deadline.

The U.S. Department of Education then required states to show how they intended to fulfill the requirement. Most states satisfied the government that they were making serious efforts, but a few were told to come up with new plans.

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Sample Topics: Teaching

A teacher is the kindest, the most necessary and charitable profession. Not everyone is suitable for it and can make a good teacher. To become one you need to be able to sacrifice a lot, to have a passionate heart and concern for the children entrusted to you. It is one of the most responsible professions. Here you deal not with machines or objects, but with children, the most pre­cious and vulnerable “material”. You will inevitably influence them, mould . their personalities, build up their prospects, as well as determine their priorities and values in life. That is why it is crucial to search inside you and estimate yourself critically: “Do I have something to give to others? Are there any riches in my soul I can share with children?" "Am I willing to take care and re­sponsibility for the lives and well-being of those small people? Am I a good example to follow?" It is common knowledge that children are big parrots, they like to imitate adults, especially those in authority. Would you be pleased to deal with some traits and ways of behaviour or speaking of others? If not — you have to do something and work hard or take up another job. I do not say that only an ideal person should be a teacher — none would be then. But not accidentally the ancient said: “May the best among people be teachers!” The teacher should be a model, a sample to follow. Children watch them intently, study their character and soul, and copy everything they like: teacher’s clothes, gestures, expression and so on. It’s great if there is something worthy to be copied and acquired by others. But it is a great pity if there is nothing of the kind and the children are just being damaged and harmed.

They say a teacher is like a sculptor: he forms from raw material given to him whatever he wants and is capable to create. Again, there are different kinds of artists: one can carve a masterpiece out of a piece of stone, another can spoil the work and progress done by the previous one. It is better to be a good artist (or teacher), a master in your field — or to be none at all.

The teacher meets a lot of challenges and hardships in his work, so he must be very wise, patient and mature to face any problem and deal with it in a proper way. .

One of the greatest needs all of us have is to feel secure and have a good sense of self-esteem. That is something to be developed at school. Teachers have to learn to encourage their students’ success and not to focus on their weakness and failures only. They must express praise and appreciation as often as correction.

A research done in some schools showed that children are rebuked and corrected seven times more than they are encouraged. We should evaluate our children for what they are, not just for what they do. We are to develop their self-esteem.

Appreciation helps people grow, it is like watering a plant and watch­ing it grow and flourish. We should be generous with our praise and stingy with blame. Let’s never forget that we reap what we sow. If we sowed only good into children’s souls and watered them with love, friendliness and deep concern, we would sooner or later enjoy a great harvest a hundred times big­ger than the efforts taken.

Teaching is art

Have you ever tried to grow a flower with love? That is not easy, I bet. First you tremble over the seeds, expect good weather, a friendly sun and a generous rain. The weather isn’t always good and you worry, but your flower grows and grows becoming stronger and more beautiful. How proud you are, how happy and excited. The flower is a complete delight to your eyes and honey to your soul, it is your creation. Isn’t that similar to teaching? Pupils are our small flowers who demand care, attention and love. Teachers help their pupils grow and become mature, but the process is difficult. It demands a lot of patience to grow one flower, but what about the whole garden where each flower is unique and so dear to you. A teacher is like a magician who out of little creates plenty, who out of raw material makes gold.

Do you know that pupils are small treasure boxes, each tightly closed? It is your task to open them and bring treasure to the light. How beautiful is a child who develops his talent by getting support and encouragement from a teacher. A treasure cannot be false, it is always real, true and worthy. Some­times when it remains too long in the box it can become gloomy, dusty and shapeless. Well, the teacher knows what to do. He cleans and washes pre­cious stones carefully. But the result is a fantastic shining diamond, That is your pupil! A good teacher penetrates into the hearts, noticing both good and bad. A teacher multiplies good and destroys evil. He nev£r puts to shame, but encourages the willingness to change for the better. A teacher is never si­lent, cold, indifferent. A teacher is a whole world for his pupils. He is the Master to whom the secrets are known and mysteries revealed. He is a com­forter, a counselor and a good friend in need. He is the one to be treated with respect and love, because he is a generous giver of all that.

A teacher is an artist. He is a potter and pupils are clay. A teacher is a gardener who makes the garden blossom and be fruitful. A teacher inspires, listens, supports, encourages, advises, teaches, explains, and loves because he is inspired. Art doesn’t accept fraudulence. Art is genuine and mistakes are costly. The responsibility is big but the reward is great.

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