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Teaching and Preaching are such important and noble professions, but there are some characteristics that can really help you ben an even more effective teacher/pastor. Every teacher/pastor is different, and that’s a good thing. Different teachers and different pastors can reach different students in unique ways, which is valuable for their success. However, there are some fairly consistent traits among great teachers.
- Patience. Every student will have their own unique struggles. Some will have a difficult time reading. For others, math will not come easily. For others, being able to sit still during school is the struggle! Patience in a teacher is key to helping students overcome their struggles. With large classrooms and many students who are all different, patience is a must for a good teacher. And, demonstrating patience as a teacher is a great way to be a role model to students. Patience is an important characteristic for effective teachers in both practice and as a model.
- Empathy. Empathy is an important quality for teachers. Children and youth have big feelings and are often dealing with more than we know outside the classroom. As a teacher, it’s important to be able to empathize with what they are feeling, even if it may not seem like a big deal. Children and youth need to have their emotions validated in order to understand and process them well. This is crucial in helping them become emotionally mature. Teachers who aren’t empathetic can’t help students overcome real difficulties, trivial or severe. As a teacher it’s vital to be able to put yourself in a student’s shoes and help them feel understood. When you teach, it’s important to be sensitive and thoughtful to make sure the learners feel they’re in a safe environment.
- Drive for self-improvement. A great teacher should be able to look at themselves objectively and see where they can improve. That can be in teaching methods, subject matter, or people-skills. When teachers can review themselves and know where to focus their attention, they can become even better. Teachers should also be willing to engage in lifelong learning, whether that be going back to school for a master’s degree, attending conferences to help them learn more about education, or reading books and articles about their field. Anything that teachers can do to increase their understanding is vital to their success. Educators who are willing to learn as well as teach are important to the future of learning.
- Adaptable. When working with other people, students or other teachers alike, certain expectations may not always be met. Your teaching methods may not work in a certain way with a certain class, schedules may change, adjustments may need to be made with little or no notice. A great teacher can adjust their teaching methods and expectations so they can still find success. They are willing to always evaluate what is working for their students, and adjust where needed. This trait is vital for teachers who want to help each unique individual find success in their classroom. It’s an important characteristic when teaching to always move your lessons around in the way that promotes learning in the best possible way.
