Did you have that one teacher who inspired you to go above and beyond? That one teacher who took their time and made sure all his/her students are on the right track? And that one class that you can’t wait to attend? I am sure we can all relate to that.  Teachers carry a huge responsibility in their classroom. They are placed in a position that will shape and mold the future generations and contribute to their students’ successes. Being a teacher isn’t just about spoon-feeding facts and data into student’s brain but about the attitude toward your students and your dedication to your job.

So, we put together a short list of qualities that a great teacher should have. (Keep in mind that this is not all the qualities that are important to being a great teacher.)

Being Organized.

Being organized and prepared is very important. Great teachers are always organized and prepared for class. Their lessons are clearly structured so that students can easily follow it. An organized teacher can quickly find their teaching materials so that there are minimal distractions in class. Besides, what would your students think when you tell them you misplaced all their homework last night? (Maybe “the dog ate your homework” excuse might work!)

 Have Patience.

Patience is a virtue. The most important quality that a teacher should have is patience. A great teacher is very patient with their students and their parents to deal with the same questions and problems over and over again.  You never give up on your students and would try out new ways to help them succeed in school.

Sets High Expectations. 

A great teacher should have set high expectations and work to raise the bar for their students. You should realize that the expectations that you set can greatly affect your students’ achievements. Setting high expectations can help challenge your students to work harder and prepare them for the future. It’s not easy (and they might hate you for it). It is up to you to inspire and encourage them to do their best!

 Cares about Students.

To us, a great teacher should also care about their students. This teacher is the one who students can go to when they have problems/issues or maybe just to share a funny story with! Great teachers are also great listeners and will make time to listen to their students. I’m sure that we all have this one teacher who you talk to after class and you are STILL in contact with him/her today! (Or am I the only one?)

Loves Teaching.

According to Robert John Meehan, “teachers who love teaching, teach children to love learning.” We believe that this is the most important quality that all teachers should have. Teachers should be passionate and love teaching. A teacher who does not enjoy and love their job cannot be effective at all. Also, you can’t expect your students to enjoy the class if you’re not enjoying the class!

We know that there are more qualities that make up a great teacher. What other qualities do you think a great teacher should have? Let us know!

Until next time,

Eva D.

The Voki Team

Bio: Eva is the Community Manager for Voki and is part of the Marketing Team at Oddcast. She enjoys playing the piano and knitting on her free time. (She’s also a Rubik’s cube master!) She loves to hear your feedback and comments for Voki!