What makes a good teacher?

“I am not a teacher, but an awakener.” —Robert Frost

What makes someone a good teacher? Students may say that good teachers are fun to learn from, caring, and inspiring. Teachers may say that they are knowledgeable, experienced, and interesting. Researchers may add that they are capable of improving the student performance. All of it is certainly true.

I believe good teachers are both 'born' and 'made.' A natural teaching ability can produce artful and inspiring teaching, but to be effective, teaching must be scholarly. It means that teaching must be grounded not only in the knowledge of the subject matter but involve the systematic study of what works in the classroom and the public sharing and review of such work through presentations, performances, or publications. Effective teaching should certainly inspire but it should also instruct, challenge and promote student active learning and achievement.

Good teachers must also have a passion for their subject and for life-long learning and to be able to awaken this passion in students. It means being role models and leaders, competent and confident in their abilities and knowledge, possessing a sense of purpose and moral values, and committed to the students they serve and to the profession they love.