1. They connect with students.
2. They have joy in learning.
Of course, great teachers acquire new techniques all the time. They don't simply pull out last year's lessons; they study their new students. They analyze each class. Who is a leader? Who is falling behind? Which kids know the material, are getting a little bored, and need a challenge? Studying the kids is as important as knowing the TEKS which will be on the TAKS. (Texas standardized testing, for those not in the Great State.)
Teaching is a craft. The serious teacher must attend conferences and get new tools whenever possible. Don't bellyache; make an attempt to be better, for crying out loud! If you don't enjoy honing your craft, how can you entice students to enjoy learning?
The competent teacher learns from everyday situations, also. Show your students what book you're reading now, which program you watched on TV, why you loved that movie, which words in the song touched you and applied to today's lesson.They will come back in future semesters and tell you what they learned over Christmas break.
After all, passing the test in just one short-term goal. If we are really helping kids grab for success, they must learn how to learn. No mother, dad, computer programmer, engineer, or mechanic can succeed without knowing how to learn the respective trade.
