What are the Professional Traits of a Teacher?

A teacher must possess the following traits:

(a) Mastery over content:

Unless a teacher has mastery over contents of a subject he/she cannot become an effective teacher. Content mastery can be achieved through different ways like reading more and more books on the same topic, magazines, periodicals, dictionaries, encyclopedia, newspapers etc. apart of attending seminars, workshops, symposia, conferences, public meetings; discussion of seniors, experts, authorities etc.

(b) Knowledge of teaching skills:

Knowledge is not sufficient for a teacher, unless he is able to manipulate the concerned topic in a lucid manner. To manipulate briefly a topic is called instructional skill. Instructional skill is defined as the cluster of behaviour manifested by a teacher which can be acquired through practice. The following is the list of instructional skills which help a teacher to carry out instructional process effectively:

(i) Introduction

(ii) Questioning

(iii) Probing

(iv) Reinforcement

(v) Explanation

(vi) Illustration with examples

(vii) Recognising attending behaviour of students

(viii) Audio-visual aids

(ix) Black board teaching

(x) Silence and non-verbal cues

(xi) Stimulus variation

(xii) Achieving closure.

(c) Other Attributes:

Among these are showing concern for students, be friendly and unique, acknowledging and appreciating the effort of students, accepting each student as a distinct individual, loving and caring etc.