What makes a good teacher? How can teachers best help their students learn? I asked a random selection of 50 students which teachers they thought exemplified the best qualities, and their answers gave insight into what high schoolers need from their instructors to succeed. All teachers can use student input to better their teaching methods.
One of the most likable traits in teachers was their ability to explain subjects, with many saying that Ms. Kell, Mr. Pinkerton, and Mr. Hoffman were good at breaking down concepts. Good notes and lectures were a common trend among answers as well, with nearly every student citing that they like teachers who “explain things well.”
Students thought that teachers who seemed knowledgeable about the subjects they taught made the class enjoyable. A student can tell when a teacher has spent time researching their curriculum, or if they merely appear to know about the topics they teach. Students said that Mr. Moore, Mr. Pinkerton, Mr. Hoffman, and Ms. Rosebrook seemed genuinely interested in their fields of study. A teacher’s enthusiasm for their department rubs off on their students.
Teachers who regularly applied their lessons to real-world scenarios and used hands-on activities like Ms. Miller were also highly valued by students. They thought that when classes were interactive, they were more likely to stay interested in the class as a whole.
“I’ve never found myself checking the clock,” Lucia Hernandez said appreciatively when talking about Ms. Miller.
A teacher’s demeanor and interactions were also important. Students appreciated when teachers joked around with their pupils, saying that humor helped keep them engaged because “jokes about things make it interesting”. However, students still valued order in the classroom. Some expressed appreciation for Mr. Moore’s stern but efficient style. Those with expectations of their students were rated highly, many liking Mr. Clewell’s class because of his constructive criticism and how he pushed them to do better. Students also liked teachers who were easy to talk to and seemed genuinely kind, often citing Ms. Kell and Ms. Jacobsen as caring figures.
“I love that she brings the mom vibe to work,” Rory Gilmore said about Ms. Jacobsen.
Most students also thought that a teacher should be invested in their students. They seemed to be able to tell when a teacher cared about their lives, giving Ms. Miller and Ms. Kresge as examples. “Understanding” was the most named trait, showing that this may be the most important thing of all for a teacher to show to their students.
According to Hernandez, a teacher should, “Always have commitment, and understanding of students, because they were once a student too.”
