Qualities of a Dedicated Teacher

Teachers have the power to inspire, through their attitudes, actions, and even through the lessons or activities they engage students in. Although all teachers possess this potential, only some stand out in our minds as truly great and dedicated teachers. There are many qualities of a great and dedicated teacher; however, there is one common quality which all great teachers possess—an unshakable passion for their work. In this paper I will use the terms ‘great’ and ‘dedicated’ interchangeable, because a great teacher is a dedicated teacher and a dedicated teacher will be a great teacher. A great teacher should have the necessary command over the subject matter her or she teaches. This way he or she can be comfortable while explaining things. Teachers with a full understanding of subject matter are able to help students understand, by explaining concepts thoroughly and being able to answer all questions accurately. By displaying competence and interest in a variety of areas, us as teachers set a positive example for our students, and encourage them to explore new areas of knowledge. Although knowledge and skills are important, a teacher who is enthusiastic, compassionate, and patient will create a positive environment in which students feel comfortable learning. Great teachers truly believe that each of their students can succeed, and are dedicated to the achievement of this success. One of the most important qualities of a dedicated teacher is to be a good communicator. He or she should be comfortable explaining things and enjoy doing it. A good sense of humor is another great tool that helps a teacher in even the most difficult classroom. Humor in the right form can play a huge role in a successful learning experience for students. A dedicated teacher must have good time management skills and always value the importance of time. A teacher should be dedicated towards his or her work; not just kill time in the classroom and wait for the bell to ring as many students do. A dedicated teacher understands that every second spent with his or her students is a chance to further their education in any aspect. A great teacher has to be organized and have an eye for detail. Well thought-out plans and lessons will make each day more productive. One of the main reasons I chose this profession is because I possess many qualities of a great teacher. I work in the Career Resource Center here on campus and we give inventory/aptitude tests to students looking for different majors and careers. My freshman year I took one of our inventories and lucky for me my results showed I was in the right profession. I am a very organized person, and as I stated, this is very important in teaching. If there is no organization or order in a classroom the goals in place for your classroom would be really hard to obtain. I have always loved working with children and seeing them grow and strive. I believe I communicate well with children on a personal level, as a teacher you have to truly care about your students as a person. Personally I fell one of my greatest attributes would be my sense of humor; I can not understand how some teachers lack this. At times having a sense of humor is the only way to deal with certain situations in your classroom. Obviously there are areas in which I need to improve on before I go into my own classroom. No matter what the subject matter is I believe there is so much more I can learn in order to be able to answer all my students’ questions accurately. I am a confident person, but I believe I need to become a more confident speaker in front of others. This has always been an area of concern for me, but I am working towards being more relaxed and confident. Great and dedicated teachers possess a variety of characteristics which contribute to their greatness; all of these qualities are rooted in a passion for teaching.