Excellent Teachers #0003 Does futureeducators.org know? 12 Things

Notes on Books, Articles and Research Reports

Having been an educator for more than 45 years, I continue to seek the answer to the ultimate question: What are the skills, attitudes and abilities required to be an excellent teacher? In my search for the answer, I read and take notes on books, articles and educational research reports every day. In this series I will share my notes with you and offer some comments along the way. Some sources use other terms such as Successful Teachers, Highly Qualified Teachers, Highly Experienced Teachers, Effective Teachers, Culturally Sensitive Teachers, and the like. I make only minor changes in the authors’ words and always attempt to maintain the original intent. I have no personal or professional relationship with the authors or their publishers.

Source 0003: 12 Things Successful Teachers Do https://www.futureeducators.org/12-things-successful-teachers-do/June 27, 2022

Excellent Teachers:

always have high expectations for students. Believe in their potential to succeed and make sure to push them to their limits.

possess in-depth knowledge about a specific field.

are humorous and enthusiastic teachers rather than the grumpy and “ever-serious” ones. They make a point of smiling each time they converse with their students, even crack a joke or two.

take risks by trying new things every once in a while. An environment that allows for expression and some risk-taking pushes students to burst out of their bubbles.

strive to make each learning lesson a thrilling one for their students. This not only makes their learning experience fun but also ensures that they are fully engaged during each class and always eager for the next one.

are coherent and resolute. If you say something, stick to it! If you say you are going to do something, make sure you see it through! If you set rules, stand firmly by them! Avoid making exceptions or playing favorites.

know how important it is to keep abreast of the latest news, educational advancements, technology, etc. Sharing this information with your students helps keep them updated too and adds value to the learning experience.

know that communication is a make-or-break skill. Communicating well helps you form closer relationships, bring cohesion to teams, and take on leadership roles. Adjust your pace and style and even your body language. Be interesting to help to keep your students captivated and in a learning state.

take their time to listen and to advise their students. Successful teachers always treat each pupil with sensitivity, as if they’re your own child. That way, they’ll always confide in you in case something is deterring their success in class.

provide relevant study materials. This may be in the form of e-books, online resources, past papers, videos and so on — anything and everything that may be useful for their studies.

avoid overloading students with homework and assignments.

observe all their students individually, separating their strengths from their weaknesses. This helps them to tailor strategies to help them harness their strengths and overcome their weaknesses.

set goals and objectives with their students.

work with students towards achieving the goals they have set together as a team.

Comments: If you are a front line teacher or administrator, you have most likely read or heard most of the above. Nice to see humor, enthusiasm, and sensitivity on this list. I’m not sure how making every lesson “thrilling” for students will sit with my readers! Again, the list reflects the incredibly high expectations held for educators. I leave it to the reader to decide if these are qualities that can reasonably be demanded of every educator in every school.