Qualities of an effective teacher

By Aileen V. Joaquin

Contributor

Teaching is an exciting and challenging job.  As it is full of commitment by the teacher, it is also rewarding. It is a chance to encourage and support others to achieve their maximum potential.  Academic requirements are necessary to become a good teacher. Likewise, good qualities coupled with numerous skills and positive values are also important in practicing the teaching profession in order to effectively teach students who will become responsible and highly productive learners.  These students will be the leaders of tomorrow so they deserve an effective instruction by the teacher. The desirable qualities of a teacher makes him an outstanding teacher. Besides, an effective teacher is a depot of knowledge, a practitioner of commendable values and a master of varied skills in order to be responsive to the needs and aspirations of the school community it serves.

The effectiveness of a teacher can be measured by his qualities and skills in the pursuit of his career or profession.  An effective teacher is one who is in constant search for knowledge. The best teacher is one who is very knowledgeable about the subject matter.  It is expected that he is more knowledgeable than his students. He teaches his students and helps them learn the concepts, information or ideas for he is the transmitter of knowledge. He conveys information about a certain subject. As a teacher, he organizes his ideas so it is easier for him to communicate and easily understood by his students. In addition, he is always prepared to answer all questions and doubts of his learners. Hence, there is a need for him to read and obtain information from different sources because how can he give or impart information if he doesn’t have enough knowledge. He is knowledgeable in engaging with students with different personality in order to grip their attention in all discussions. Additionally, he needs to possess effective skills in correcting his students that promote positive behaviors and change in the classroom. Besides, an effective teacher acquires basic knowledge on good classroom management skills and ensures worthy students behavior, effective study and work habit, and a deep sense of respect in the classroom. 

A committed teacher manifests commitment in rendering his best services in the field of his profession. He firmly believes that productivity doesn’t come as an accident. Effective teaching is the result of a commitment to excellence in doing his roles as a teacher. Excellence is doing his best as possibly as he can. Commitment is also the outcome of intelligent planning and focused determination. There is a need to have a commitment to a relentless pursuit of one’s goal—a commitment to produce quality output.  This will enable him to attain success and contentment in teaching.  Furthermore, commitment is doing an action and it is not an utterance of word or words only.  As a teacher, he is certain that education is a shared responsibility and commitment of teachers, students and supportive parents with the assistance of stakeholders.

Another indication of an effective teacher is being compassionate. A compassionate teacher is caring, emphatic and able to respond to people. Compassion in teaching is a necessity, it is not an amenity. Without compassion, teaching is hopeless. It is the greatest treasure of a teacher. He practices compassion to make his students happy. His duty on earth is to widen his circle of compassion to embrace all his students regardless of their strengths and weaknesses. Moreover, high tech gadgets like computers, cellular phones and many more are marvelous tools but they cannot replace the teacher’s compassion and love. A teacher’s attitude is genuine. He shows kindness and motivates the students by providing them varied activities and experiences to make their lives fruitful and meaningful. He is there to offer full learning experiences and to flourish interest in inspiring the students’ creativity. This is very fundamental in teaching because students learn best when they are comfortable in the classroom. 

In addition, an effective teacher equips himself with good communication skills.  A communicative teacher encourages effective two-way communication. One mark of a great teacher is the ability to lead his students through good communication.

Moreover, a flexible teacher is considered an effective teacher. He willingly alters plan and directions which help students in moving toward their goals in life.  A flexible teacher stays very long in the teaching profession. No day is distinctive in the life a teacher. He plans and teaches his lessons daily.  In doing his roles as a teacher, he meets difficulties or challenges that impede the realization of his learning objectives. He cannot do away with interruptions that lead to distraction on the momentum of his class. He is being disturbed because these students upset him. Unfortunately, a teacher cannot change the school system. He cannot do away with disruptions that occur in his class each day. What he can alter is his own attitude about these interruptions. Being flexible and adaptable will help him deal with the many pressures of the work while allowing him to keep his stability.  A flexible teacher feels satisfied because he is willing to change his outlook and teaching methods in order to achieve quality teaching. He also utilizes a variety of methods and strategies which are suited to the level of the learners. He refines his way of teaching over and over again.  He does not teach the same way and use the same instructional materials year after year. He employs the most up-to-date teaching methods by using ICT gadgets especially nowadays that we are living in this era of high technology. Learners comprehend their lessons easier and faster when there are more senses that are involved. The teacher employs PowerPoint presentation, video presentation and others to make teaching interesting.

A teacher can become a real educator if he adjusts and changes his                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   instruction depending on who is in the classroom and the extent to which these students are achieving. An effective teacher begins with the belief that students are smart and they can be attracted to learn. He utilizes or capitalizes on the strengths of his students and do something to help them improve on their weaknesses regardless of their own experience, knowledge, and skill.

An effective teacher shows competence in his teaching.  As a competent teacher, he gives technical assistance to his co-teachers so that they will be empowered and become competent in their teaching. He is close to his students in intellectual as well as psychological ways.  He is there to empower others on the use of intelligence in making wise decisions on what is best to his learners.

It is also vital for a teacher to be positive all the time. He thinks positively and enthusiastically about his students that they are capable of becoming best learners. Likewise, it is also essential for a teacher to be value-based.  A value-oriented teacher focuses upon the worth and dignity of his learners.  If knowledge is important, positive values are also vital.

In summary, a highly effective teacher can have an enriching effect on the daily lives of his students because of his impact for a lifelong educational and career aspirations. We know empirically that an effective teacher also has a direct influence in enhancing student learning. Studies on teacher quality support the fact that an effective teacher does not only make students feel good about school and learning, but also make their work actually results in increased student achievement.  Personal and professional qualities are associated with the attainment of higher levels of student achievement. Content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, verbal ability, and ability to utilize a wide-range of teaching strategies skillfully motivate the interest of the students that spell an effective and a successful teacher.

Ultimately, as a teacher, he is definitely confident that when he teaches his lessons, his noble purpose is to make teaching and learning effective. Learning takes place better when a teacher adjusts to the curriculum, approaches, methods and pacing in order to cater to the students’ needs.  Further, learning has more impact in the life of learners and comprehend the lesson well if there are more senses that are involved, accordingly, using high tech gadgets   in teaching is also laudable. He situates a priority on students’ needs through the use of curriculum guide in order that his students will get high ratings in the achievement test that is given at the end of the year.

Finally, the qualities of a teacher has something to do with learning.   Knowledge, basic skills and appropriate values of a teacher contribute a lot in attaining quality education. Hence, effective teaching entails the total disposition of the teacher. Teaching is a highest calling from the Lord.  Students crave for a teacher who can satisfy their thirst in quest for education and learning.   Are you one of the teachers who is ready to satisfy their thirst in hovering high to the level of excellence?  The answer is yours.

(Ms. Joaquin is a School Principal III and OIC of - Education Program Supervisor (Guidance and Values Education) in the City Schools Division of Batac)