CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EFFECTIVE TEACHER

Each person has a different view on each item. That happens when we want to find the true

meaning of what is effective teacher. There are a range of views from various parties on this point.

Regarding to Chambers English Dictionary 1990, (page 1507) teacher is one whose profession is,

or whose talent is the ability to impart knowledge, practical skill, or understanding. That is the

meaning of the word teacher.

In contrast to the effective teacher, the meaning is more referring to teachers themselves. Vogt

(1984) related effective teaching to the ability to provide instruction to different students of different

abilities while incorporating instructional objectives and assessing the effective learning mode of the

students. Swank, Taylor, Brady, and Frieberg (1989) created a model of effectiveness that was

based upon teacher actions. For them, effective meant increasing academic questions and

decreasing lecture and ineffective practices, such as negative feedback and low-level questions.

For me, an effective teacher is a good person who meets the community ideal for a good citizen and

good parent. He or she should be honest, hardworking, generous, friendly, and considerate, and to

demonstrate these qualities in their classrooms by being authoritative, organized, disciplined,

insightful, and dedicated. Having many years experience as a teacher will not necessarily make one

an effective teacher. Effective described a particular teacher who had been the most successful in

helping students to learn. Arends (1998) said that an effective teacher is one who can activate the

energy of students to work toward a more just social order and humanity. An effective teacher is like

a person who has a love for learning. Experience will be a great knowledge when teachers use it in

improving the weaknesses that exist in themselves during the process of teaching and learning. We

can say that an effective teacher is the one who can establish good communication with students,

nurture and care for the environment for personal development.

1. Open mind

There are many characteristics to be an effective teacher. However, there are some major

characteristics that should be concern if the person wants to be an effective teacher. One of them is

an open mind or willing to think outside the box. Learning and adapting are two of the biggest parts

of being a successful teacher. Everyday will bring new and unexpected obstacles to overcome and

adapt to, so we must be able to handle a significant amount of adversity, especially early in our

career. Lynn Columba, program coordinator of the College of Education at Lehigh University in

Bethelehem, Pa., says the best teachers consider themselves “lifelong learners” who are “willing to

explore new teaching strategies and methods” as well as “act on current research in the classroom”.

He said that effective teachers are not born; they are made after an enormous amount of hard work

and dedication. There is no one set cookie cutter way to teach. If there was, teachers and students

would both be bored. What makes teaching so exciting is that kids learn differently and we have to

find and utilize different strategies and differentiated learning to reach every student. What works for

one student, will not work for every student. Teachers have to be willing to be creative and adaptive

in their lessons, thinking outside the box on a continual basis. If you try to teach every concept in

the same manner, there will be students who miss out on key factors because they aren’t wired to

learn that way.

2. Flexibility and Patience

I think one of the core doctrines of teaching should be that everything is in a constant state of

change. Interruptions and disruptions are the norm and very few days are ‘typical’. Therefore, a

flexible and patience attitude is important not only for our stress level but also for our students who

expect us to be in charge and take control of any situation. Working with children is a formidable

task. They need to be considered very carefully all the time. Teach them requires patience and

persistence. A good teacher is a teacher that is able to be patient and deal with them calmly

coquettish.

3. High expectations

An effective teacher should have high expectations and strive to raise the bar for her or his

students. If we go in expecting less effort, we will undoubtedly receive less effort. We must focus

on an approach that says we know students can achieve to our level of expectations, thereby giving

them a sense of confidence. This is not to suggest we should create unrealistic expectations.

However, our expectations will be one of the key factors in helping students learn and achieve.

4. Positive attitude

We will be thrown many curveballs in life and especially in the teaching profession. A positive

outlook will help us deal with these in the best way. At the same time, some of our students will

likely come to class with a negative attitude toward the class, so it’s best to try and counteract it with

positivity and a sense of humor. For me, the best teacher is people who are intelligent, fiercely

inquisitive, caring and happy. They are people who want their lives to make a difference in the

world.

5. Organizing

Students need structure. They have different learning styles, but if we provide an organized

environment, they will all be able to thrive in our classroom. Take the time to organize our classroom

in a way that isn't distracting. Keep art supplies and books out of sight and arrange the room so that

our students are facing the chalkboard. This will keep their attention on what you are teaching. The

effective teacher has a plan for instruction too. It is important to know the exact requirements for

each grade level and subject. The goals for each student must be at the heart of the planning

process.

Some teachers plan at home and others work after school, crafting unit plans that incorporate

various objectives. Regardless where or how teachers plan and organize for instruction, the

evidence of effective work is seen in the classroom. Not all techniques are effective in all settings,

nor with all groups. Since classes are collections of individuals, effective teachers are those who

can assess the needs of a given group of students and adjust their instructional format if necessary.

Formats that provide opportunities for interaction on three levels are the most effective: between the

instructor and the class as a group, between the instructor and students as individuals, and among

students. A good plan doesn’t guarantee high-quality instruction, but a poor plan most certainly

contributes to ineffective instruction.

6. Sense of humor

It is nice when a teacher can effectively deliver one-liners that give everyone a chuckle. It’s a bit

trickier to have the quick ability to react with good humor and diffuse difficult situations. This is a

truly admirable skill of a great teacher. Learning should be fun and nothing conveys this message

more than a room that is filled with spontaneous laughter. The sense of humor can relieve tense in

the classroom situations before they become disruptions. Besides that, it will allow us to see the joy

in our life and make us the happiest person.

7. Execution

A good teacher exudes confidence and inspires his or her students to ask questions. Boredom is

one of those conditions no teacher wants to have in his/her classroom. An effective teacher must be

enthusiastic (even when he is tired), always brings new light to challenging subjects, does not teach

in the same manner every day. Above all, teachers should be well-groomed as students scrutinize

every part of a teacher's appearance to the point of being critical or judgmental. A pleasing vision in

front of them makes students more inclined to listen.

8. Discipline

This is probably one of the most difficult areas for teacher, to be consistent in our disciplinary

strategies. The most effective teachers are ones who are consistent with how they handle a student.

From experience, a teacher never has an argument with a student in front of the class. An effective

teacher will take the student outside, away from his peers where he cannot possibly back down in

front of them. Peer pressure is great. At the same time, action speaks louder than words. In the

good old days, sitting in the corner wearing a "dunce" hat only served to humiliate and anger a

student. Writing a hundred lines also serve to remind the student how bad the teacher is. Having a

student run up and down nearby steps can help calm a hyper student, as will doing ten push-ups in

front of the class. The students can join in the countdown of push-ups. Other students will even join

in wanting to do push-ups. Healthy competition as discipline can help relax a class. An effective

teacher knows when to give and when to give in when classes are excited and difficult to quiet

down.

9. Sense of belonging

An effective teacher will also listen when students are addressing concerns in the classroom. By

showing their students that they are human beings and do care about them as people, they will be

respected as a person and an educator. Some of the most effective teachers that I have

encountered in my lifetime were interested in my family and me. They also expressed interest in my

hobbies. These effective teachers would encourage me to write about my specific hobbies that they

knew that interested me. By showing an interest in my life and my interests, I looked up to them with

respect. Students feel like “they belong,” in the classroom of a great teacher. This teacher gives the

class a feeling of family. They work cooperatively on mutual goals and with mutual caring. This may

be the most important one.

10. Creativity

Students will often remember unusual assignments, use of props, decorations or costumes that

inspired them to really think “outside the box.” Such is the calling card of the effective teacher. It

could also be a saying such as, “A stitch in time saves nine.” (Benjamin Franklin). Teachers use a

variety of methods and materials to suit their students' abilities, age and their unique requirements.

An effective teacher knows the best instructional materials that his class needs for the lesson. For

instance, a year one teacher will use such materials as toys and games to attract the attention of

kids. Very often, a teacher finds that some stray remark takes the class in a direction that the

teacher never planned on taking. A well-organized teacher will be able to come up with a third

alternative; take the discussion in the direction it is going but alongside the material that she had

planned for the day. This is where a teacher’s organization of material and lesson plans comes

handy. If every class has been following a set plan (with many unexpected diversions) the students

would be able to see the broad picture and notice the continuity. They will try and make a

connection to their earlier discussions. Thus, it is very important for a teacher to have his material

well organized and have a clear lesson plan. The material should not be of a single variety.

Handouts, quizzes, tests, worksheets and other support material make it more interesting for a

student. Further, as different students have different approaches to learning, the teacher can

respond to each one by providing a variety of material.

   I believe an effective teacher is a teacher who can help others learn and grow into a better

individual. An effective teacher possesses a variety of pedagogical practices that tend to a student's

needs; these include patience and care for others, good communication, the ability to handle or deal

with problems appropriately, and passion and enthusiasm when it comes to what they are teaching.

These are some of the characteristics value most in my past teachers, and these are the

characteristics I believe I too possess as a teacher because I am constantly working on these skills

and demonstrating them in my own life. An solid education is the foundation for life. Whether the

learning takes place in a formal or informal setting, the role of the teacher is the greatest inspiration

for a student. A great teacher finds ways to instill new concepts and perceptions into all students

and, in turn, takes on the role of student themselves allowing to learn from each person they come

in contact with. A great teacher treats each student individually, keeps a positive attitude, relishes in

the learning process, knows that hands on teaches the best lessons, learns from their students and

inspires the love of learning to all. Finally, no teacher can be effective unless he likes the students

he lectures. It's the only way to get the best results from them.

REFERENCES

1. Arends, R. 1998. Learning to Teach (4th Ed). Singapore; The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

2. “Characteristics of an Effective Teacher,” Center for Teaching Excellence, Virginia ,

Commonwealth University, 2009 www.vcu.edu

3. Turnbull, J. 2007. 9 Habits of Highly Effective Teachers. New York; Continuum International

Publishing Group.

4. “Characteristics of an Effective Teacher www.HarryKRose@aol.com

5. Louis E Raths "What is a Good Teacher" in Childhood Education, Association for Childhood

Education International, Washington XL, No.9