There are many ways to improve your teaching abilities; however, there are also some things teachers do that can actually degrade their performance. Bad habits may be easier to pick up without thinking about them too much, but they are crucial to identify and nip in the bud since they can decrease your effectiveness as a teacher if you’re not careful.

Also, while it is easy to see what makes a good habit vs. a bad habit by looking at them from an outside perspective, doing so does not always make it easy for teachers who are already feeling stressed or overworked in their teaching jobs. With this in mind, this article will explore both the good and the bad teaching habits to help you find which ones work best for you and which ones to avoid

Be a Model Teacher in a Diverse Setting

The first habit of a good educator is to be a model teacher, which means to be the best teacher you can possibly be. This means that you need to be prepared for every class and practice what you preach. If you want students to follow your procedures and get their work done on time, you will have to demonstrate those behaviors yourself for them to follow suit.

Furthermore, teaching children of various abilities and disabilities, including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures, isn’t always easy. As such, teachers wanting to excel in this area should consider the Dual Certification in Childhood Special & General Education program, which can help them learn how to overcome the challenges many teaching roles present and how to be a model teachers for all children.

Complete and Submit Lesson Plans

Good teachers also have lesson plans that they create, complete, and submit to the school well before they start classes. These lesson plans are broken down into objectives and procedures to give students an idea of what they need to do to succeed in the class. A good teacher also knows how long each subject should take so that they can plan for a longer or shorter period as needed.

Treat Students Fairly and Equally

Another useful habit for teachers is treating all students fairly. This means that you are consistent in your application of the rules so that no student can feel as though they are being treated unfairly by you. It also means that you can communicate with each student in a way that is appropriate for their needs.

Know Your Subject

Finally, good teachers make sure they know their subjects. This means they are knowledgeable about the material they teach and know how to best present that information to students for them to absorb it. A good teacher also keeps up with the current events of their subject and can find real-world applications for the material they are teaching.

Final Thoughts

This is far from a comprehensive list, but these are the most common traits of good teachers. Remember that different students require different approaches and that you should never be afraid to try something new.

Your most important job is to ensure that every student learns whatever it is they need to know to succeed in life. That means you may have to work harder and adjust your methods, but that’s a part of being an effective educator.