What Makes a Teacher Stand Out?

We have all had one. A teacher that stands out above the pack. A teacher who makes you want to come to school, to give your best effort, to be your best. I bet you can remember their name, can’t you?

Mine was Miss P.

As a six-year-old, I couldn’t wait to step through the doors of 1/2P every morning, and my friends felt the same. I thought what she did was magic.

I can remember the way that the classroom felt, the jokes that she made, the way she spoke to me like it was yesterday. When I decided to become a teacher, she was my measuring stick, the teacher that I aspired to be.

I can’t even remember the name of the teacher I had the following year.

Twenty-nine years and a career in teaching later, I can see that this is far from magic. It is an art. This art form is one that is nurtured and crafted over time and is personal to the teacher that practices it.

Why is that? What is it that separates the adequate (or sometimes just plain bad) teachers from the ones that we remember decades later? It is widely recognized that increased student engagement leads to improved results, so it is important that we explore some of the qualities that make these teachers stand out.

The way they make us feel

The teachers who make a difference in their students’ lives are the ones who care. Children are perceptive; they know when you are genuine and when you are just phoning it in. Great teachers get to know their students from the very first time that they meet them, and quickly work out the best ways to interact with all of the different personalities within the room.

This differentiation is important, as while they will have classroom agreements that are for all students, the way that they engage with students as individuals is a key to making them feel as though you are there for them. You can make a student’s day by showing them that you know them, and increased happiness at school leads to improved academic results.

The little moments

Memorable teachers make the most out of the little things. Looking back at Miss P, every afternoon she would pick a lucky name out of the hat. If your name came out, then you would help her bring her ‘special teacher basket’ from the front gate to the classroom the following morning.

You may feel that seems like a pretty average, mundane activity, but to a six-year-old, it was the best possible thing that could happen. Reflecting back as a teacher, it was genius that she would pick the name the day before, as that lucky student would walk out the door beaming and then come to school the next day energized and excited to be there.

This is not to say that every teacher should do precisely what Miss P did. There are so many things, from personalized comments in homework books to special nicknames for students or making a game out of the end of day pack up routine, that teachers can do that require little effort but remain in their students’ memories forever.

You can tell that they have fun teaching

Presentation is everything. Especially when working with children. This is why memorable teachers always appear to be enthusiastic and enjoying themselves as they teach. They can find fun in any topic and present it in a way that is energetic and engaging. They enjoy the craft of teaching, and they celebrate the achievements of their students.

Having a laugh with students and looking like they want to be there goes a long way in helping these teachers built trust with their class. This is something hard to fake, as exceptional teachers have a passion for what they do and are not afraid to let that show.

These teachers also seize moments of spontaneity for what they are: special little moments that can be used to capture students’ imagination. They are not just ignored to adhere to lesson plans rigidly. Memorable teachers are the ones who enjoy when a lesson goes slightly off-topic, as they know that it can end up in a far more rich learning experience than what they had originally anticipated.

Conclusion

Being a teacher that stands out is not easy. It requires passion, dedication, and a love for the craft. Giving students those moments where they feel special, showing them that you know them, and getting them excited about learning are some of the aspects that make a teacher stand out. Do you have a teacher that you still remember? What was it about them that made them great?