by Alex Landis

Created on: February 06, 2008   Last Updated: September 27, 2011

In a lifetime, we as people will be graced with the presence of one great teacher. If we are lucky, it'll be two. These people end up shaping our lives for the better because of their greatness, and we deeply admire them for that.

A great teacher has many faces. They may typically be a professor or teacher in the classroom, but often they can be our family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. It makes no difference who they are really, or what their profession, but great teachers all have one thing in common. They instill inside us values, knowledge, hopes and dreams. Once they've been taught to us, we are changed for the rest of our lives.

Teachers who teach for a profession have high expectations to meet. They hold our young children's minds in their hands and mold them like pieces of fine clay. Greatness is expected form these teachers as they are responsible for helping bring our children into their adult lives. This is partly why it is important to find the characteristics that these great teachers share. If teachers are to be taught themselves, they must be taught the excellent traits of their peers before them.

Let's take a look at the qualities that define a great teacher.

1. Love What They Do

There is no question, that awesome teachers love to teach. Not doing it for the money, prestige, or glory, they teach because it brings them an incredible feeling of satisfaction knowing they are contributing positively to the futures of others. If a teacher doesn't have this inner satisfaction, and does not enjoy what they do, they'll never be able to make lasting impressions in their students minds. Passion has great impact, and this is something that all great teachers have.

2. Good Communicators

A teacher has the responsibility of bridging the gap between themselves and their students, so good communication skills are a must. It's difficult sometimes to relate to people, especially children, so that learning can happen in their minds, but excellent teachers are masters of this. Relating to students on the student's level, these teachers have developed many ways to reach their students, and communicate using terrific speaking skills, visual aids, and even in their body language.

3. Admirable

In order for a teacher to be great, they must be admirable. These teachers lead lives of high moral ground, and they set an example to their students because of it. Really though, admirable teachers are more credible than others. We as people are much more likely to listen

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>