Teacher Traits

Working on my teaching mobile has made me consider good and bad teacher qualities. After thinking it through, I have come to the conclusion that a great teacher is not born; they are made. Obviously, to become a teacher, one must have a great deal of knowledge and education. This leads me to the question of what does it really mean to teach? This assignment has really brought some interesting questions to my mind. I addressed them in my journal for this week also. I find that not all of my questions are answerable. This shows me that I am using the higher level thinking. Whatever the case may be, it doesn't matter what qualities you possess if you don't show them to the people that surround you on a daily basis. To be a great teacher, your students must know that you are in control. To gain their respect, they must also respect your qualities. I have tried to compare this relationship to the relationships I have had with my teachers. I knew that they were in control of the classroom and I respected them a great deal. After thinking back on our relationship, I find that I also respected their personal qualities. I think this is crucial for successful learning in the classroom.