What are the most valuable qualities of a good teacher? Good teachers are likely made up of a combination of hundreds of qualities that allow them do their job effectively. There is no denying that all teachers have their own unique blend of these qualities. Each teacher is different, but virtually every good teacher has the following twenty-five qualities.

A good teacher is accountable.

Accountable – Holding yourself to the same expectations and standards as you hold your students.

A teacher cannot have double standards. For example, if you do not allow your students to chew gum in your class, then you should not chew gum either.

A good teacher is adaptable.

Adaptable – Making changes to lessons or activities on the fly because of an unforeseen situation or problem.

A teacher must be willing to change. If half the class does not understand a particular concept, then you cannot move on and must quickly come up with a better way to teach that concept.

A good teacher is caring.

Caring – Going the extra mile to ensure that every student is successful no matter what.

A teacher must figure out the personalities and interest of each student and incorporate components that connect with each individual.

A good teacher is compassionate.

Compassionate – Recognizing that your students have problems outside of school, and making the necessary adjustment to help them through those issues.

A teacher must take outside factors into consideration. For example, if a student has just lost a loved one, the teacher should be sensitive to that and adjust accordingly.

A good teacher is cooperative.

Cooperative – The ability to work effectively with administrators, other teachers, and parents for the good of your students.

A teacher must be able to build cooperative relationships with others around them even if they do not necessarily like them.

A good teacher is creative.

Creative – Taking a concept and shaping a lesson that is unique, engaging, and dynamic.

A teacher must be able to create lessons that grab their students’ attention and make them want to keep coming back for more.

A good teacher is dedicated.

Dedicated – Showing up everyday and spending the necessary time to provide your students with the best education.

Teachers often arrive early and stay late. They work parts of weekends and summer to ensure that they are prepared.

A good teacher is determined.

Determined – Finding any means necessary to reach all students no matter the challenge.

Teachers must be willing to do anything to ensure that all students receive the education they need.

A good teacher is empathetic.

Empathetic– Being sensitive to a student’s struggles even though you may not personally be able to relate to them.

A teacher must put themselves in the student’s shoes and see it from their perspective. This approach is often transcending in how to help the child succeed.

A good teacher is engaging.

Engaging – The ability to grab the attention of a classroom full of students and to maintain their attention throughout the entirety of class.

A teacher must create lessons that are fun, fresh, and energetic. You want your student to walk out of your class each day looking forward to the next.

A good teacher is evolving.

Evolving – A continuous process of year over year improvement and growth.

A teacher must continuously look for ways to improve themselves as well as individual lessons or components of lessons.

A good teacher is fearless.

Fearless – Trying a new approach that may be outside the norm and may receive criticism or scrutiny.

A teacher must be willing to try anything within the parameters of school policy to reach their students. They must also be ready to defend their approach to criticism.

A good teacher is forgiving.

Forgiving – Quickly putting incidents with student, parents, or other teachers behind you so that it does not impact your teaching.

Teachers must be able to get past hurtful actions or accusations quickly. They must not hold it against any student or let it impact how they teach in the classroom.

A good teacher is generous.

Generous – Volunteering for extra assignments and/or giving money out of your own pocket for classroom needs or individual student needs.

Teachers do not make enough money, but most teachers are willing to donate time and/or money to help out in areas where a need is recognized.

A good teacher has grit.

Grit – The determination to overcome any obstacle in the way of obtaining a long term goal.

A teacher must possess the grit necessary to make the personal sacrifices necessary to ensure that every goal is reached every year.

A good teacher is inspirational.

Inspirational – The ability of a teacher to get their students to buy into, believe in, and to be motivated to become life long learners.

A teacher should make a lasting inspirational impact that follows a student throughout their life.

A good teacher is joyful.

Joyful – Coming to class each day in a good mood, excited, and enthusiastic about doing your job.

If the teacher has a lousy attitude, the students are going to have lousy attitudes. If the teacher is joyful, the students are going to be joyful.

A good teacher is kind.

Kind – The ability of a teacher to say and do things that uplifts, motivates, and inspires.

Kindness should be innate in all teachers. A mean spirit will turn students off, but a kind spirit is invaluable.

A good teacher is organized.

Organized – The ability to keep things neat and in order allowing teachers to access materials quickly and to make efficient transitions.

Organization is a necessary quality for every teacher. Teaching encompasses so much that those who are unorganized will be overwhelmed and swallowed up.

A good teacher is passionate.

Passionate – Teaching with enthusiasm and exuberance on a daily basis because you love the content and your students.

A passionate teacher connects with their curriculum and their students which maximizes learning.

A good teacher is patient.

Patient – The ability to see the whole picture and to understand that the school year is a marathon, not a sprint.

A teacher must never give up on a student. They should continuously try new strategies understanding that eventually something will work.

A good teacher is resilient.

Resilient – Not allowing adversity to stop you from accomplishing your goals.

A teacher must be resilient in overcoming the many obstacles that will present themselves over the course of a year.

A good teacher is resourceful.

Resourceful – Finding a way to make things happen.

A teacher must be able to figure out how to get supplies and materials for their classroom when the funding is not available and to reach a student who has no interest in learning.

A good teacher is trustworthy.

Trustworthy – The ability to get others around you to believe in you and what you are doing.

A teacher must gain the trust of both their students and parents. Any distrust will negatively impact the classroom.

A good teacher is vulnerable.

Vulnerable – Allowing your students to gain insight into your life without revealing a lot.

Vulnerability allows students to relate to their teachers as they share in common interests such as sports, television, etc.

On this Teacher’s Day let us imbibe these qualities in us as teachers who build the nation….

Happy Teacher’s Day

Sunny Jacob SJ