What makes a teacher great? – The Daily Writing prompt asks a very good question today.

I’ve been a mentor at times but never a real “teacher.” So this reply is from a novice.

I guess it starts with mental and physical strength. Listening and compassion. Communicating expectations and goals. Remembering you’re in a profession that is very important but vastly underrated while remaining very upbeat. One who builds on the curriculum in new and interesting ways. An incredible immune system from all the germs the rug rats are bringing in and spreading around. Incredible patience while at the same time being driven. A love of building youthful minds and reaching each one.

I think the ability to endure and keep finding the passion that took you to it in the first place. There must be an internal love of seeing students learn and progress. I’m probably missing a ton and I might just ask my children what I should have written because I consider both of them great teachers.

There are a few of the ups and downs of being a teacher. I know it’s a tough job. You love the children but you see the vast discrepancies in abilities and levels but have to teach them all at the same time. You see who is doing a good job at home and who isn’t by the children’s actions and communications which means you are teaching a lot more than is in the books on everyone’s desks. You are in the middle between administrations and parents and that is a very tough spot at times.

So many factors go into what you might consider a great teacher. Is it one in a poverty-stricken area that works with kids who probably are more hungry than interested or scared because they had gunshots through the night and can inspire these children to do better and greater things with just words and actions?

Is it those few teachers who are singled out for Teacher of the Year awards? Or the masses behind and beside those recognized who work just as hard, who won’t win awards.

I think a great teacher goes to work each day has the best interest of the children in their care and imparts as much knowledge and skill in the given time to every child. And despite our uproar about education, there are a gazillion great teachers in this country. My hat is off to them.

Check out other replies to this question today: https://wordpress.com/tag/dailyprompt-1985