How to Be an Excellent Teacher

I think attitude sums it all up pretty well. A teacher with a caring attitude can win over her students from day one! You've made some points here that every teacher should take to heart.

Voted up, useful, and interesting.

Very valid points, Dianna. A sense of belonging is essential in a classroom...kids are more willing to work with you and each other if they feel part of the community, though it's not always easy to create with different personalities coming into play. Essential though! And oh yes, that sense of humor is vital., especially with teens. Thanks for sharing, Dianna, and I pass this on.

I have tutored by cousins and siblings, but never officially been a teacher.

Dianna, you are a wonderful teacher.

Knowledge is a matter of design and that is why the classroom space is an important one. Does it reflect interest and pop with color? Is it print rich? Is it inviting? Does it house a classroom library with rich resources? Are there resourceful centers gracing the perimeter? Are the lessons student centered? Is there a caring teacher who sets high standards and is approachable? She [teacher] is the most valuable resource in the room and more often than not, it is she who creates the climate in the room (Haim Ginot) and models behaviors that are as important as what she teaches.

Great hub, Diana.

You wrote another wonderful Hub on the subject of teaching and how important a job it is to be a teacher. When I was growing up and going to school in a two room school, I can still remember the teachers who influenced me and those I loved. One was a teacher (hard as nails) who taught me to play the piano. I wrote a Hub that was inspired by her. I can still just see her....

I voted this Hub UP, and will share.

Why do I have to choose one answer in the poll? I really can't pick just one - I think they are all very important! Teaching is a difficult and exhausting job, when done well. Too many people think it is just sitting around or talking, but it is so much more.

Dianna, don;t know how I missed this one the first time out, but agree with the overall message of your article as a teacher too. It is so very important to indeed have a sense of humor and to be able to admit you make mistakes. Kids can sense when you make a mistake and if you try to hide it or play it off they will have none of that. So best to be honest and fess up, they will indeed respect you more as a teacher and a person too. Have of course voted, shared and tweeted too!!

teaches12345, another great hub about teaching. You have a way of always bringing it back to the relationships of teachers and children and how the nurturing of these is the base line for all that follows. Well written, interesting hub, really enjoyed it.

I liked your insights here on this topic, especially the idea that every excellent teacher should enjoy good sense of humor, very important nowadays. Voted up!

Hi teaches

while I'm no teacher and have never worked with children, I found a lot of good tips in this hub. I think I've a good sense of humour. I'm excellent at admitting my mistakes as I've been making them all my life and still am. I have taught a few apprentice mechanics and run maintenance classes at present and found quite a lot in this hub that I could use.

Great job, great hub. Voted up, the rest and shared,

MJ.

Teaches, voted up, useful, and awesome. I never had the chance to say so, but thanks for your service. Teachers make a big difference and they don't receive enough credit for it. They truly don't. So I have to take a moment to value all your time in the field and the differences that you have made along the way. Great article Teaches. Your right about that humor, I believe it is a sign of confidence. My teacher was very funny, made learning fun. Plus, it was history. Sadly, I never realized my passion for history until a few short years ago. But even so, I know he made a difference in my life. Well written and it shows how great of a teacher you are also:)

I enjoyed reading this hub.

I'm not the best with names so I don't remember most of my former teachers names but I do remember some life lessons they taught me that might not have been in the textbook we were using at the time.

Teachers don't get the credit they deserve for all of the hard work they put in molding our children.

Voted up and useful/awesome.

All of my favorite teachers possessed most, if not all, of these characteristics. Great stuff, as usual!

Teaches, this is so beautiful and it is obvious you are an outstanding teacher. I love what you say about having a sense of humour about potentially embarrassing moments, and that teaches the kids good social skills. That is such a good point. What a wonderful idea to minimize the unimportant with this strategy. I think much of what you are describing is part and parcel of the teacher being very confident in themselves and their abilities, too. Such an awesome hub. Voted up and more. Thanks for sharing!

Beautiful Hub and one I will definitely refer to new Teachers. I have always said that a good Teacher will have a heart for the Job. I have been Teaching for over 10 years and I enjoy it. So many old students are still in touch with me. The Poll was a challenge for me. Lol. All the answers rated highly. Rated up and Tweeted. :-)

Ps. I have also included the link in my Hub: A few things Teachers should avoid.

good hub! all those associated with teaching should refer these tips.. really useful.

Teaches12345, EXCELLENT! This is a wise and wonderful article that exudes much wisdom! You are a Marvelous teacher! As you so wonderfully stated: “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.” AMEN! There is much information here to encourage and help others become great teachers! BRAVO!!!

Thank you for sharing, In HIS Love, Grace, Mercy, Joy, Peace & Blessings!

What a lovely hub! I have always loved the teacher's profession though I never got to be one. This hub has brought back nostalgic memories of my school days when my teacher used to be very kind and caring. Oh, how much we loved her! Very well-written. I am sharing it socially for my friends to read and enjoy. Great hub. Cheers, Rema

A teacher who cares and makes a student feel they are valued and loved is a teacher I will always treasure. Thanks for this Diana. I am sure you are a wonderful teacher!

I am sure that you are an excellent teacher. I remember my 4th grade teacher as interesting, funny and definitely a well organized lady. She is the one I still think about today.

Great hub on a subject that we can all relate to.

I'm so glad you've emphasized the importance of a sense of humor! That's invaluable.

Informative hub. Great habits worth cultivating for anyone in any profession. Thanks for sharing.

Obviously written from experience! Sense of thumor tops my list too, not just for teachers but for any profession. Voting this Up and Useful.

Excellent points here. an excellent teacher do not spoil his students just to win the title "friendliest teacher". one must dedicate his time to teach the children what is good.

Great hub!

As usual, you've raised some great points in your hub, teaches, and you have described some very important characteristics needed to make an excellent teacher!

My son's third grade teacher was at that school until 6 pm every evening. A great teacher is becoming more rare and they are so vital to a child's success. Thanks for this great Hub. We can help and respect our teachers more by reading articles like this.

This is so true, Teaches, and the part about humor really hit home with me. When I think back to my favorite teachers, what I remember most is that they laughed easily and often. It is a sign of confidence, and it puts the children at ease. Useful, interesting hub!

If every beginning teacher or teacher wannabe read your complete instructions for attaining excellence, what an excellent model our schools and perhaps even our children would be. Thank you, teaches.

I've seen way too many teachers who have no business being teachers. You've really outlined how a teacher can attain the mark of excellence.

If every teacher have these attributes, out schools will produce more excellent students.

Thanks teaches12345 for sharing this. Voted up and useful.

Great suggestions, my daughter is also opting teaching as her career, voted up

Knowing a student's name makes the student feel special. Involving parents and reaching out to them is the best thing to do. Your hub is very useful and full of great information as always.

I had a few teachers during my school years that really loved teaching. They really made a difference!! I hope my children get to experience that as they continue through school!! Great hub, voted up!!!

Although I am usually a wordy person about education, and as a former teacher, I have but two words that, to me, make an excellent teacher...Fair and tough! My teachers that fit the bill, were just such people and I appreciated them the most, in the long run.

You outline the characteristics well here. I do have a few teachers from elementary school that I still remember fondly. Good teachers can have a lasting impression. I vote up and will share as well.

Great ideas. Thinking back I think it would have been so easy for teachers to be better instead of just treating it like a job, Substitutes seemed to be even worse! I had some very kind teachers but they still did not take the time to really interest me in anything. English, math, things like that I made straight A's without thinking and although I made top grades in all things I hated history, dates to memorize is all that was to me. Today I love history! Why did no teacher ever make is personal and interesting?

To be an excellent teacher you must be prepared to step into the shoes of the parent for a few hours a day and give willingly of what you know. It is a tough job but rewards do come. Everything you said about being a good teacher is true because teachers do not only teach by curriculum, they also teach by example. How a teacher interacts with his/her students will teach them how to interact with others.

Great hub, teaches12345!

So well done--an important post here with tremendous points. I hope it will be highlighted many times over!

This should be required reading for all teachers. Up ,useful interesting and awesome.

Thank you for this public service my friend. We need more teachers with that kind of commitment. It took me back when I was working as a teacher's aid for the Special ED department, working with Autistic kids. Is true is the hardest work you'll ever love. The biggest tool in a teacher's arsenal is indeed love. Blessings.

A must read for any new teacher....the first part about thinking back to a teacher who made a difference....that was the kind of teacher I told myself I would be. Great hub my friend!

Nurturing a love for learning in students is so important because that is something children will take with them through life. Children today especially have to be life long learners and a good teacher recognizes that. Excellent hub and insight for teachers. Voted up!