https://www.facultyfocus.

com/articles/philosophy-of-teaching/nine-characteristics-of-a-great-
teacher/

Years ago, as a young, eager student, I would have told you that a great teacher
was someone who provided classroom entertainment and gave very little
homework. Needless to say, after many years of K-12 administrative experience
and giving hundreds of teacher evaluations, my perspective has changed. My
current position as a professor in higher education gives me the opportunity to
share what I have learned with current and future school leaders, and allows
for some lively discussions among my graduate studen ts in terms of what it
means to be a great teacher.

Teaching is hard work and some teachers never grow to be anything better than
mediocre. They do the bare minimum required and very little more. The great
teachers, however, work tirelessly to create a challenging, nurturing
environment for their students. Great teaching seems to have less to do with
our knowledge and skills than with our attitude toward our students, our
subject, and our work. Although this list is certainly not all -inclusive, I have
narrowed down the many characteristics of a great teacher to those I have
found to be the most essential, regardless of the age of the learner:
https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/philosophy-of-teaching/nine-characteristics-of-a-great-
teacher/

1. A great teacher respects students. In a great teacher’s classroom, each

person’s ideas and opinions are valued. Students feel safe to express their
feelings and learn to respect and listen to others. This teacher creates a
welcoming learning environment for all students.

2. A great teacher creates a sense of community and belonging in the

classroom. The mutual respect in this teacher’s classroom provides a
supportive, collaborative environment. In this small community, there are rules
to follow and jobs to be done and each student is aware that he or she is an
important, integral part of the group. A great teacher lets students know that
they can depend not only on her, but also on the entire class.

3. A great teacher is warm, accessible, enthusiastic and caring. This person is

approachable, not only to students, but to everyone on campus. This is the
teacher to whom students know they can go with any problems or concerns or
even to share a funny story. Great teachers possess good listening skills and
take time out of their way-too-busy schedules for anyone who needs them. If
this teacher is having a bad day, no one ever knows—the teacher leaves
personal baggage outside the school doors.

4. A great teacher sets high expectations for all students. This teacher realizes
that the expectations she has for her students greatly affect their achievement;
she knows that students generally give to teachers as much or as little as is
expected of them.

5. A great teacher has his own love of learning and inspires students with his
passion for education and for the course material. He constantly renews himself
as a professional on his quest to provide students with the highest quality of
education possible. This teacher has no fear of learning new teaching strategies
or incorporating new technologies into lessons, and always seems to be the one
who is willing to share what he’s learned with colleagues.

6. A great teacher is a skilled leader. Different from administrative leaders,

effective teachers focus on shared decision-making and teamwork, as well as on
community building. This great teacher conveys this sense of leadership to
students by providing opportunities for each of them to assume leadership
roles.

7. A great teacher can “shift-gears” and is flexible when a lesson isn’t working.
This teacher assesses his teaching throughout the lessons and finds new ways
to present material to make sure that every student understands the key
concepts.

8. A great teacher collaborates with colleagues on an ongoing basis. Rather than

thinking of herself as weak because she asks for suggestions or help, this
teacher views collaboration as a way to learn from a fellow professional. A great
teacher uses constructive criticism and advice as an opportunity to grow as an
educator.
https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/philosophy-of-teaching/nine-characteristics-of-a-great-
teacher/

9. A great teacher maintains professionalism in all areas—from personal

appearance to organizational skills and preparedness for each day. Her
communication skills are exemplary, whether she is speaking with an
administrator, one of her students or a colleague. The respect that the great
teacher receives because of her professional manner is obvious to those around
her.
While teaching is a gift that seems to come quite naturally for some, others have
to work overtime to achieve great teacher status. Yet the payoff is enormous —
for both you and your students. Imagine students thinking of you when they
remember that great teacher they had in college!

Dr. Maria Orlando is a core faculty member in the doctoral Educational Leadership
and Management Specialization at Capella University. She also serves as an adjunct
professor at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri.

THIS PO ST HAS 72 COM M ENTS

Pat Boling1 4 JAN 2013

This strikes me as a list of necessary but not sufficient conditions for being a
great teacher. What makes a teacher great is reaching to present difficult
content, ideas, debates, issues in a lucid, compelling way, time after time. A
great teacher works hard to prepare, to think freshly about the material she's
teaching, and to find current examples that will grab her students' interest. A
great teacher makes the classroom magic happen, regularly. She or he elicits
her students' best efforts and engages their minds, so that they leave class
still alive with ideas and comments, and they talk about what went on in class
with their friends, roommates, family when they get home too.

@MagdinStoica 1 4 JAN 2013

Once in a while, something comes along that you want to carry with you,
make a poster of and post it in your office; something you need to read every
now and then to remind you of your destination, something to aspire and
inspire. Today, your post was that "something". Thank you and thank you
@FacultyFocus.

suehellman1 4 JAN 2013

I'd like to add several points to this list of 'greats' — (1) great teachers create
learning experiences rather than instructional episodes — by constantly
refining how to get the students from what they arrive knowing to what they
need to understand or be able to do when they leave; (2) great teachers walk
their own talk — by that I mean they embody and model the spirit of what
they teach & expect of their students; and (3) great teachers can see their own
work through their students' eyes — they have not lost their personal
connection to what it's like to be a student. When the learning goes well, a
great teacher ensures the students own this success. When it doesn't, the
'buck' lands firmly in the teacher's lap.

Old School 1 4 JAN 2013

https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/philosophy-of-teaching/nine-characteristics-of-a-great-
teacher/

When learning doesn't go well, it is not necessarily the teacher's

fault. I think the teacher has the responsibility to understand why
it didn't go as well as hoped, but students are accountable for their
own learning and often do not accept that responsibility.

AbigailB 3 1 JAN 2013

I agree with this completely. As adults students must
take charge of their own learning. As instructors we
do our best to provide learning experiences, but if the
student doesn't want to take charge and learn, they're
not going to.

emn7891 4 JAN 2013

Those who don't see themselves being all nine (or at least working diligently
toward excellence in), shouldn't be teaching. Having said that, perfection in
all areas and all circumstances isn't attainable either. So, I strive to learn and
grow daily in these nine (and the additional items recommended by
suehellman). Some days are better than others (-:

Greg C.1 4 JAN 2013

A great list…and some great follow-up comments & suggestions – here's
another one:
DON'T BE AFRAID TO MAKE MISTAKES (OR ADMIT THEM)!
A teacher is human and one of the best role modelling strategies we can
impart on our students is to learn from our mistakes. If you are wrong – 'fess
up and fix it! We expect nothing less from our students. I think this is a subset
of high expectations and accountability, yes?

Syed Sohail Ahmed1 4 JAN 2013

In short a great teacher always follow
A RA , A=Acknowledge, R=respect and A= Appreciation

Wayne1 4 JAN 2013

A great teacher also encourages both genders. There is only on male pronoun
used in the article!

Guest1 4 JAN 2013

I see two. Also, some of the points are written in gender-neutral
language. Please don't be so silly.

a teacher, too1 9 JAN 2013

I find it interesting that substituting "she" for the usual,
acceptable "he" pronoun is somehow seen as a glarring
omission……I doubt if keeping with the typical default pronoun
"he" would have even been recognized, much less commented
upon. Think about it….

aurora ma. veronika1 4 JAN 2013

https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/philosophy-of-teaching/nine-characteristics-of-a-great-
teacher/

a great teacher do not allow exploitation of her environment, of her

institution… especially when the teaching is happening in the most
uncomfortable, and among the poor countries in asia….

John1 5 JAN 2013

A great teacher is a guide and a facilitator, who leads by example.

Laxmi Garigipati 1 5 JAN 2013

A great teacher is always a best guide, Friend and philosopher. This is a very
good article and the points gives a teacher a right direction.

Kristin1 5 JAN 2013

What a great article! I'll be sharing this with my Adult Education students
this semester…

lirek1 5 JAN 2013

Fantastic article!! Thank you Maria! If I could be so bold as to add one more
to the list? I believe great teachers teach problem solving, not just how to
find the "answer."

Jeremiah Stanghini 1 5 JAN 2013

I think #5 (A great teacher has his own love of learning) is really important.
Teachers needs to continually renew themselves and their knowledge. The
wisdom of today may not be the wisdom of tomorrow. In fact, the wisdom of
today may be proved wrong tomorrow.

Life Long Learner1 5 JAN 2013

Great post. Some of the points can be bunched into one. Thomas Anthony
Angelo's Teachers
dozen http://www.csuchico.edu/~lseder/ceeoc/teachers_dozen.pdf is a more
complete list of what great teaching entails.

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Anjie Kokan1 8 JAN 2013

This is a wonderful reminder of what teachers who want to be great strive to
do. I also like what Pat Boling added to this. Thank you, Maria and Pat!

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Shawn Johnson, EdD.2 3 JAN 2013

Reading the posts after the article was as informative and helped me grow as
much as the article. Kudos to you all. I would like to add that as elementary
as this seems, creating a learning environment online that helps students feel
"safe." Safe to explore, to make mistakes, to try and not be judged for his/her
thoughts and opinions….to me, that is true learning and growth. Shawn
Feaster Johnson, Ed.D.

guest2 7 JAN 2013

https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/philosophy-of-teaching/nine-characteristics-of-a-great-
teacher/

A great teacher is one who has an incredibly challenging class, a class of

uninterested students – and the teacher tries EVERYTHING but never gives
up. One can have all the skills mentioned here and still not move a class –
and that is the biggest challenge of all – coming to class everyday willing to
try something new, never giving up although the class just never ignites. I've
only had one class like this in my career, fortunately. The comment that the
students need to want to learn is a wise observation, and a true one; a teacher
is half the equation, and can only do so much, even the great ones. Not all
students can be inspired, unfortunately. But we can't stop trying!

@judartbarnside 2 9 JAN 2013

A great teacher doesn't allow the students who struggle more often to fall
through the cracks. The best teachers are definitely the ones that treat each
and every student with respect and the ones that will have complete gratitude
for you when you accomplish something, and be disappointed when you let
yourself slack. If you see your teacher's disinterest in a topic you tend to
allow yourself to drift away, nothing is more interesting to a student than
seeing passion about a topic. Great teaching to me was t he incorporation of
different teaching styles when one wasn't working and understanding that
extra time outside of class is necessary for every student to get where they
need to be. There was students in my classes who thoroughly didn't want to
learn and if they even came to class, actively tried to disrupt it. The teacher
that got through to those students, even just once, were the most skilled as
they understood that everyone strives for something in life and could be
personable enough to any student that the student would reveal that dream. I
am most grateful of the teachers in my life that embodied any of those aspects
and any of the nine above because without them I may not be where I am
today.

mbaskaran3 0 JAN 2013

A great teacher inspires and heroic in communication.Usually teachers who
teach primary level are those who are fresh in the minds of students. These
students keep their teachers in mind fresh and adore at all time. They are
great. So that type of qualities-NOBLE -MINDEDNESS- are essential

AbigailB 3 1 JAN 2013

Personally, I believe that these characteristics ARE the bare minimum for
being even a decent teacher. That may be because my background is in
elementary education, but I was taught that these were just the things you
did. I had to go above any beyond all of these tips to truly be a great teacher.
Always strive to be better than the minimum.

Dr Ramanand Yadav3 FEB 2013

A great teacher is an accepted personality to the learner. Personally, I believe
that every accepted teacher is a self made person, understand the learners
more, devote significant quality time on self learning and imparts the relevant
learning to make it the part of the learners culture.

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Similima

Dr, Bruce Francis 2 2 FEB 2013

Superb article! I work with Maria in the doctoral program at Capella and can
tell you that she embodies all of the characteristics she writes about in her
work with our learners. A gifted colleague who 'walks the talk'. It is an honor
to work with her.

Ralph Shibley2 2 FEB 2013

This is one of those articles that needs to find its way to the teacher training
programs both via the instructor and by providing a copy of this document to
the learners. I don't think one can move forward and make a difference in the
lives of the learners without what Maria has described and presented to us.
This is exceptional and so on target. Terrific job Maria. I can't wait to read
your next work.

Maria2 4 FEB 2013

Thank you Ralph!

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Chilet DIMAYA9 MAY 2013

This is a great article. I would like to share it with my colleagues in a teacher's
in – service training. May I have your permission, Maria? And of course the
rest of you who contributed through your wonderful comments, may I quote
you guys? I'm sure this will help them improve their teaching and inspire
them to do so during the coming school year. IThank you very much
everybody.You make me feel that teachers really, really care. THANK
YOU!!

hadilekoubida 6 JUN 2013

A great teacher should always remember that he/she is a human being and
he/she is dealing with human beings too, and that he/she is the adult while
the learners ,especially in first stages ,are younger than him/her and then need
our care, exactly as parents with their kids .THANK YOU!!

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Chronicles
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teacher/

Home learning1 8 JUN 2013

Firstly a Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. A person with experience
can present anything in a better way. The characteristics of a good teacher
you have discussed are the key characteristics of any teacher. A teacher
having urge to teach and help students in learning and collaborate with them
can be successful teacher. A good teacher always keep himself/herself on the
road of learning. Having these qualities a teacher can produce good students
for their nation.

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bakhtiar1 5 JUL 2013

learning is a power how u treat it in the class

S'idu Uba2 SEP 2013

a great teacher also is one who knows and can identify all problem of his
students.

Gafoor4 SEP 2013

Great teacher is usually born out of experience.Teaching is nothing but
reaching in to the child , if you could do it you will be ever remembered and
respected

nihad bsharat 9 SEP 2013

Teachers are great messengers;their mission is to grow well seeds in order to
harvest better crops; so they have to help their students grow despite their
pitfalls
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Required

Sunday-Martins Odetokun1 9 AP R 2017

Dr.Maria Orlando points are true and excellent it encourages me to do more
and bring a new generation to the knowledge and wisdom that they are
looking for, I am excited and trill.

Gina Gullett 9 MAY 2017

How do you know if you have what it takes? You could pu it allof this hard
work snd still remain a crappy teacher. How will you tell?