How to Be an Excellent Teacher

Think back to your grade school years and picture the teacher who made a positive difference in your life. What was impressive and memorable about this person? Most of us reflect upon a person who was caring and took time to notice our efforts at school. A person who not only educated us but also modeled excellence in life.

A teacher who is alert to the emotional needs of his students works to establish a nurturing environment in the classroom resulting in a strong teacher-student relationship. Each lesson is planned with diligent regard to stimulating student enthusiasm towards learning.

A teacher of character demonstrates care through her behavior and gestures toward students. As a teacher interacts with children even her expressions and tone of voice represent a caring nature. These attributes inspire success in students.

A prepared and organized teacher exhibits competence and minimizes the need for discipline in the classroom. When a teacher is organized more time can be devoted to assisting students with actual learning.

A sense of humor is the mark of a confident teacher. The ability to add a touch of wit to learning situations is valuable in promoting good spirits and learning in the school room. A light hearted look at potentially embarrassing situations can help children to learn good social skills and build strong character.

I find students respect a teacher who can admit they made a mistake and one who apologizes quickly instead of ignoring the error. It is not easy to admit a mistake and sometimes it does hurt the ego, but in the long run you will only gain admiration and respect.

Creative teachers are ones that go the extra mile to enhance the learning. The time and effort to create a theme, such as in a preschool classroom dramatic play area, is so valuable in helping children to fully grasp a concept. As they play they are motivated to learn and they retain the lesson longer.

Lastly, a positive attitude is effective in keeping children interested and engaged in the classroom learning process. Students thrive under a teacher who notices the little things a child does well and capitalizes upon it with positive praise. It is amazing at how positive recognition changes behavior for a lifetime.

The link below is helpful in organizing basic classroom materials and supplies enabling a teacher to create a sense of balance in the school room and at home.

When I begin a new semester I print out the roster and read the names of my students and try to commit them to memory for the first day of class. A name is important and it portrays a caring attitude when you can associate a name to a face on the first day. I also ask them to share bits about their personal life so that I can learn how to relate to them as the weeks pass. Showing interest in this way indicates you care and helps to build a relationship between you and your students.

Most beneficial to a classroom is establishing a sense of community with students and their parents. Creating an environment where children feel like part of a family is comforting and increases the feeling of safety. Reaching out to parents and keeping them involved in classroom activities will strengthen your educational programs.

An excellent teacher demonstrates character values that lead to excellence in learning. This type of environment promotes a successful experience for students. And from a student's perspective, this shows a teacher cares about the individual needs of each student and will only prove to inspire a lifetime of excellence.