What does it take to become a good teacher?

By: Frances Zia A. Pidlaoan

Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Social Studies

How can a teacher be a good one? Does she need to graduate with flying colors? Does she need to come from a good school? Well, being a good or even a great teacher is not measured on how smart you are but on how you love the profession and perform as an authentic teacher. Yes, a teacher needs to be knowledgeable, skillful and wise but there are also characters that a teacher needs to possess so that the rest of the needed characteristics will work accordingly and justly.

A teacher should possess openness. A good teacher is open to change and is willing to learn new things. She doesn’t stuck herself to her comfort zone or to where she stands but instead, she’s ready to apply changes and even discover more for the sake of offering better learning experiences to the students. She strives to be better each day because she knows that there’s no one perfect way to teach the students but there are lot of ways to teach them. A good teacher is not afraid to learn new things to become better and more effective teacher. In being open to change, great teachers don’t just consider their benefits but most especially, they consider the quality of education that they may of offer to their students. 

A teacher should be passionate. A good teacher loves what she’s doing even though hardships come. A teacher who loves teaching not just she’s required to but because she wants to will definitely inspire many. If one is really into this profession, you don’t need any means of motivation but your zeal for teaching will be enough to make you motivated and excited to teach and impart learning to the students each day. For me, if a teacher really has a great passion in teaching, all of the characteristics that she needs to become a good teacher will follow like the patience, being motivated, excellence and professionalism. If you love what you’re doing you will surely perform well and accordingly to what you are required to. It is simply a teacher’s love for teaching that will lead her to become a good one, to become the crowd favorite.

It is very important that good teachers have an amazing and unique characteristic that can be her edge among others that will make her a better teacher not just in providing knowledge to the students but to inspire them.