Priyanka R.

Patience
This is likely the single most important skill. Kids these days are stubborn, and many lack the inherent respect for authority that we were taught at a young age. Spending a single day in a room full of raucous teenagers is enough to send any human being to the looney bin, which is why every good teacher needs patience in order to find a way to work with his students and earn their respect.

Adaptability
Different kids learn in different ways, and some lessons need unique teaching tools. Good teachers know how to adapt their lesson plan to their students, so that all the kids learn optimally. This trait can take some experience and practice in a classroom setting, so give it time.

Imagination
Whether you teach high school chemistry or kindergarten, nothing is a more effective tool than using your imagination to create new and interesting ways for your students to learn. You may be inspired by the work of another teacher, mentor or a TV commercial - it doesn't matter. All that matters is that you take the initiative to find new ways for your kids to learn the material.

Teamwork
Teachers could have a hard time without a wide variety of support staff around them. If you feel alone, your school principal, administrative staff, parent-teacher committee, and more are often available to provide you help. By working as a team, you may have an easier time increasing your students' ability to learn and have fun.

Risk Taking
Sometimes to get the big reward, you may need to take a risk. Being a teacher is about finding a way to get kids to learn, and sometimes these new learning methods can be risky. Stick to it and you'll soon find that others are following your teaching example.

Constant Learning
You can never know too much when you are a teacher, especially when it comes to the best way to teach your students. Great teachers are constantly looking for ways to expand their horizons with courses, workshops, and seminars. Make sure you don't become stagnant by taking courses to keep the content fresh in your mind.

Communication
No teacher will succeed if they don't have good communication skills. Clear, concise, and to the point - the better your communication skills are, the easier your lessons will be. There are many different types of classes available to help some teachers who may need help improving their skills.

Mentoring
Teachers need to always remember that, aside from parents, they are one of the most consistent mentors in a child's life. That means setting a good example, at all times. Teachers may also have students that they spend extra time with being a mentor, which means that being a good role model is even more important.

Leadership
One of the other most important skills each teacher must have (besides patience) is leadership. Your students need someone to guide them, to be in charge, and set the tone of the class. Leadership is a difficult skill, meaning you may want to get outside help if you feel that you could use more work on this particular skill, or any other for that matter.