1. Knowledgeable: A good teacher is knowledgeable in their subject area and can effectively convey that knowledge to their students. According to a study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology, “teachers’ knowledge and expertise are among the most important factors influencing student learning and achievement” (Hattie et al., 2016, p. 204).
  2. Enthusiastic: A good teacher is enthusiastic about their subject and conveys that enthusiasm to their students. A study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology found that “teacher enthusiasm is related to student engagement, enjoyment, and motivation” (Fried et al., 2015, p. 1155).
  3. Patient: A good teacher is patient with their students, understanding that learning can be a slow and sometimes frustrating process. According to a study published in the journal Teaching and Teacher Education, “patience and persistence are necessary teacher characteristics for effective classroom management and positive student outcomes” (Bennett et al., 2015, p. 62).
  4. Empathetic: A good teacher is empathetic, understanding the needs and concerns of their students. A study published in the Journal of Teacher Education found that “empathetic teachers are able to build more positive relationships with their students and create a more positive classroom climate” (Roorda et al., 2011, p. 355).
  5. Organized: A good teacher is organized, with clear goals and objectives for their lessons and a well-structured classroom environment. According to a study published in the journal Educational Psychology, “organizational skills are necessary for effective classroom management and maximizing student learning” (Rimm-Kaufman et al., 2014, p. 43).
  6. Flexible: A good teacher is flexible, able to adapt their teaching style and methods to meet the needs of individual students and changing classroom situations. According to a study published in the journal Teaching and Teacher Education, “flexibility is an essential teacher characteristic for promoting student learning and motivation” (Van Dinther et al., 2017, p. 39).
  7. Reflective: A good teacher is reflective, constantly evaluating their teaching practices and seeking ways to improve. According to a study published in the journal Teacher Development, “reflective practice is a key characteristic of effective teaching, as it allows teachers to evaluate their own performance and make improvements to their practice” (Hatton & Smith, 2014, p. 122).

References:

  • Bennett, S., Woods, P., & Wise, C. (2015). ‘I really do feel better for talking to you’: An exploration of the value of mentoring for early-career teachers. Teaching and Teacher Education, 50, 59-67.
  • Fried, L., Mansfield, C., & Dobozy, E. (2015). Teacher enthusiasm: It’s possible to teach without it, but why would you want to? Journal of Educational Psychology, 107(3), 1155-1164.
  • Hatton, N., & Smith, D. (2014). Reflection in teacher education: Towards definition and implementation. Teacher Development, 18(1), 121-135.
  • Hattie, J., Fisher, D., & Frey, N. (2016). Visible learning for mathematics, grades K-12: What works best to optimize student learning. Corwin Press.
Advertisement