Key qualities of a successful teacher

I agree with Melissa Kelly's top six keys to being a successful teacher. I can relate to why she choose humor as her number one. Being in the classroom can be overwhelming at times. I have to remind myself to not stress the small stuff (especially a day when your trying a new lesson), things are not always going to go how I imagine. However, I find that if I can keep my own sense of humor it does make my class time more enjoyable. Also, when your listening, kids can be so silly and come up with the funniest things. Taking the time to laugh and not be so serious can really help you connect with your students. Some other qualities that this article did not mention, which are also very important are organization, willingness to change, and the ability to learn from your students. I realize that there are some teachers that are not very organized and can inspire students with their spontenuity, but I think if you have materials and lessons ready before your class it can definitely make it run more smoothly and add to the success of your student's. Educational ideas are constantly changing and I believe that even a teacher who has been teaching for fifteen years should seek the new ideas in education to better themselves for their student's. Remember that you are in the classroom to learn from your students just as much as they are there to learn from you. In other words, don't get all high and mighty. Accept that children may know more than we think. We all make mistakes, even as adults.