A great teacher is one a student remembers and cherishes forever. Teachers have long-lasting impacts on the lives of their students, and the greatest teachers inspire students toward greatness. To be successful at Win With Words we seek teachers who have the following qualities:
- An Engaging Personality and Teaching Style
A great teacher is very engaging and holds the attention of students in all discussions. - Clear Objectives for Lessons
A great teacher establishes clear objectives for each lesson and works to meet those specific objectives during each class. - Effective Discipline Skills
A great teacher has effective discipline skills and can promote positive behaviors and change in the classroom. - Good Classroom Management Skills
A great teacher has good classroom management skills and can ensure good student behavior, effective study and work habits, and an overall sense of respect in the classroom. - Good Communication with Parents
A great teacher maintains open communication with parents and keeps them informed of what is going on in the classroom as far as curriculum, discipline, and other issues. They make themselves available for phone calls, meetings, and email. - High Expectations
A great teacher has high expectations of their students and encourages everyone to always work at their best level. - Knowledge of Curriculum and Standards
A great teacher has thorough knowledge of the curriculum and other standards they must uphold in the classroom. They ensure their teaching meets those standards. - Knowledge of Subject Matter
A great teacher has incredible knowledge of and enthusiasm for the subject matter they are teaching. They are prepared to answer questions and keep the material interesting for the students. - Passion for Children and Teaching
A great teacher is passionate about teaching and working with children. They are excited about influencing students' lives and understand the impact they have. - Strong Rapport with Students
A great teacher develops a strong rapport with students and establishes trusting relationships. - Body Language -All teachers can use appropriate body language to create the desired atmosphere within their classrooms, for example:
- Exaggerating movements when explaining something to the whole class. This should capture and hold the students’ attention and can be used to emphasise important points.
- Walking towards the person who is talking, even if it is only one or two steps. This can have an incredibly positive effect on individuals, boosting self-esteem by physically demonstrating an interest in what they say.
- Responding by smiling and nodding when a student is talking.
- Keeping eye contact with the student who is talking and showing enthusiasm with facial expressions.
- Walking around the room during a discussion so that the whole class feels involved.
- Avoiding ‘closed’ body language (such as folding arms) and physical signals that can distract from the learning process, for example: constantly checking the time or looking at paperwork that has nothing to do with the lesson.
It is easy to forget that students absorb more information from what they physically see than from what they actually hear. It is also important to remember that nonverbal communication is generally thought to be more ‘honest’ than verbal communication; if your body language is positive then students are more likely to trust you.