Qualities of an Outstanding Teacher

What do all outstanding teachers have in common? All outstanding teachers share six important qualities.

Outstanding teachers are masters at multitasking
In today's classrooms, teachers are faced with the daunting task of dealing with questions, adjusting the lesson to meet the various modalities of the students, being a coach, a mentor, "fitting in" the curriculum amidst all sorts of distractions, and teaching character education. An outstanding teacher is able to handle all of these things at once, with patience and determination.

Outstanding teachers are enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the subject matter
When a student is able to observe a teacher speak passionately about the subject in which they are teaching, the students become enthusiastic about the subject and strive to learn. Outstanding educators have the ability to take the blandest subject and turn it into an exciting challenge and interesting topic.

Outstanding teachers are able to adjust a lesson on their feet
Many times, a lesson does not go as planned or the students do not seem to understand the material. A master teacher does not let that faze him or her. He or she is able to come up with an example, an activity or a demonstration "on the fly" in order to illustrate a point and further understanding. A master teacher does not see the lesson plan as rigid, but as pliable and dynamic as the students tend to be.

Outstanding teachers know practice makes perfect
Outstanding educators allow the students many opportunities to see the same material so that the students can learn according to their own learning style. They present the material in many different ways, with visuals, kinesthetic activities, and auditory learning. They also allow the students to teach each other, as every teacher knows, the best way to learn something is to teach it. They also tend to apply many different strategies such as CRISS strategies and seminars to help students organize information, vocabulary and reading comprehension.

Outstanding teachers have procedures
Outstanding teachers have procedures for EVERYTHING. They have procedures on how to enter the room. They have procedures on how to be dismissed. They have procedures for turning in work when returning from an absence. They have procedures on how to sharpen a pencil. Procedures make a classroom run smoothly. When students know what is expected of them, how to do things in the classroom, and consequences for not following procedures, authentic learning is able to take place.

Outstanding teachers listen to their students
In order for students to become confident in the subject matter, students need to know that teachers will do all they can to help them learn. The object is not for educators to teach our students, but to guide them to learning it themselves. Outstanding educators know that they can only do this if we provide an environment where they are free to ask questions and those questions will be honored, and answered.