We have officially ended the first month of the 2017-2018 school year. We’ve had to deal with waking up at the crack of dawn every day, wondering who to sit with at lunch, getting used to our new locker combination, taking chapter tests, becoming familiar with our new class schedule, and most importantly, different teachers.

Entering into my senior year, I have dealt with successful teachers, boring teachers, and just simply mean teachers. I have had teachers who were extremely motivated to better my education and really cared for me. I have also had teachers in which it was hard to learn from, causing a lack of information within that class. So, what qualities should every teacher obtain to allow his/her students to highly achieve in class?

• Good Personality

Teachers who have a pleasurable personality are more likely to have their students succeed. Students are more likely to spark up conversations during lectures and stay more attentive during class if the teacher has a good personality. Teachers with a good personality will establish trust between them and their students, which is one of the most important bonds a teacher and student should have. Without trust, the student won’t care for the class and the subject needed to be learned in that class.

• Passionate about Teaching

Being passionate inspires students. If students come into class and notices a teacher dislikes his or her job, it discourages students from wanting to learn. Teachers should express how much they enjoy their job and being around “young people”. Being enthusiastic during lectures will keep our minds focused and wanting to learn more. Without passion, a teacher is just simply boring. The best teachers will make learning exciting by being passionate towards the subject we are learning in class.

• Making Class Fun

This is most likely one of the most important qualities every teacher should have. If teachers want students to interact with the lecture, make class fun. Do something embarrassing to make us smile. Relate what the students are learning about to their personal life. Give students labs to complete that open their understanding of the subject being presented in class. Kate-Lynn Bennett, junior, stated, “While doing labs in Mrs. Dennison’s class, I get hands on anatomy. I’m the type of person who needs to be up close and personal to really understand.”

• Friendliness/Openness

A good teacher is one that is kind and opens up to their students. Students tend to think of teachers as their “enemies”. If teachers are gentle, kind, and open with their students, students will be more apt to appreciate them and view them as role models. The more teachers open up about themselves, the more students will open up in return. You never know, someday a student may be going through a difficult time and the positive influence of a teacher could make all the difference.

• Be Nonjudgmental

Teachers that respect students for who they are, not what they look like or where they are from,  are the most astounding teachers a student could have. It isn’t easy walking into school and feeling like you’re being judged by your peers, but walking into class and sensing that your teacher doesn’t care for you either, doesn’t make you feel great. Students who feel like teachers have a high respect for them are more likely to achieve and be motivated to work harder in class.

Teachers want students to be open to learning and improving. Teachers need to remember that they, too, can find ways to improve.