by Marianne Rittner-Holmes

Created on: May 30, 2010   Last Updated: May 31, 2010

All of us are teachers whether we know it or not, whether we want to be or not.  Scary thought that it is, ask yourself if you don’t learn from others on a daily basis at any age?  Did a co-worker show you a software shortcut?  Did your young son learn to use his napkin?  Did your neighbor buy a product you recommended recently to make cleaning glass easier? 

We are constantly sharing ideas and actions with each other all the time regardless of our station or stage in life.  Some of us are better at it than others. 

So, what are the qualities of the best teachers?  They share three common factors:  knowledge effectively delivered, an awareness of learning styles, and relevancy of the lesson. 

Knowledge effectively delivered simply means the point was gotten across and was retained — even perhaps employed in life somehow.  Effectiveness doesn’t mean you have to like the person delivering the lesson.  It doesn’t mean you even have to like the content of the lesson.  It simply means you “get it.”

Take for example the early-childhood message that chewing gum in class in the 1960’s might result in wearing the gum on your nose as a warning to others.  Not a very pleasant outcome, but certainly effective if you were a sixth-grader in Sister Irenaus’s homeroom.

A more positive example might be teaching a pre-schooler how to make a heart for Valentine’s day.  Your child might remember that lesson because it gave a sense of accomplishment at having created something.  It might have been reinforced with hugs and kisses from you when it was brought home with pride and a big grin.  Your child made you feel good; you made your child feel good.  Positive reinforcement can be a very effective method in teaching. 

The best teachers are those who tailor their training to you as an individual.  In a formal setting, this is known as an awareness of learning styles.  As unique personalities, we learn differently.  Some prefer to hear the information; some need to see concepts in pictures, diagrams or even in writing; still others prefer learning in a hands-on (kinesthetic) environment, actually practicing the drill or building the object—maybe even taking it apart.  In a classroom setting, a highly-skilled teacher will combine all these elements into his or her lesson plan to teach, reach, and reinforce the

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