What Makes a Good Teacher?

In my previous post, I outlined two main themes that I believe good administrators should possess.  I wrote that post from the perspective of a teacher.  Today, I want to share my opinions on the completely opposite issue: what makes a good teacher, from the perspective of a(n) (aspiring) school administrator.

There are hundreds of qualities that could be used to describe an effective teacher.  I want to outline five qualities that I believe are imperative for a teacher to be considered effective and successful.

1. Teachers should enjoy their job. Teachers deal with children, preteens or teenagers.  That should not come as a shock to anyone, especially not teachers.  Effective teachers should enjoy interacting with whatever age range of students they have chosen to teacher.  Are there going to be difficult students?  Of course.  However, an effective teacher enjoys their job because they enjoy teaching young people on a daily basis.

2. Teachers should know their content. This goes without saying, but teachers should have an intimate knowledge of their content area. However, content area does not necessarily mean subject.  Of course a Psychology teacher needs to know psychology.  But teachers must know how to teach, they must have a direct knowledge of human growth and development, learning styles, and current instructional trends.

3. Teachers should be willing to improve. No teacher is perfect.  Even your teacher of the year will have areas of improvement.  Teachers should be continually working to refine their craft, modifying lesson plans, lectures and activities on a daily basis.  Each class, each student brings a different need and slightly different learning style to the classroom.  Effective teachers should be able to modify their instruction to allow all students to thrive in their classroom.  Is it easy? No.  Does it happen overnight?  Of course not, but an effective teacher is always working towards that goal.

4. Teachers should be willing to share. As a teacher, most of my best lesson ideas came from other teachers, both in and out of my discipline area.  Effective teachers become teacher leaders because they share ideas with their colleagues, what works, what doesn't work, and what could use improvement.  I love the fact that most teachers are more than willing to share their lessons and ideas with the people around them.  Chances are, they weren't their original idea in the first place.  All teachers should work together to achieve the ultimate goal of education: student learning and preparation for life.

5. Teachers should be willing to lead.  Effective teachers are teacher leaders.  Effective teachers should be teacher leaders.  Now, that doesn't mean being a department chair, on lead team, or any other official capacities.  However, teachers should lead in their profession.  That may mean going to professional development and sharing what was learned with the rest of the staff.  It may mean leading a PLC at the school level.  It could mean sharing your best instructional strategies.  However you choose to lead, effective teachers are leaders.

As with my last post, this list is not an end all be all.  However, I believe administrators are looking for these characteristics (among others), when working to identify effective teachers in their school, or in the hiring process.

Do you have other "must haves" for effective teachers?  Let me know!