Some Great Traits, However Outside the Top 10, 11-20

 “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” -Maya Angelou. 

Consistency is the key attribute to becoming memorable. Though this list does not fall in the top ten list of traits that make teachers memorable, they lie just outside and have regularly come up as traits students recall that make their teachers their favorites.

11. Inspiring

Definition: to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence: to produce or arouse (a feeling, thought, etc.): to fill or affect with a specified feeling, thought, etc.: to influence or impel

Key Thoughts for Application: Affect, animate, arouse, embolden, excite, galvanize, hearten, impress, motivate, provoke, spark, spur, trigger

Inspiration is what gives others the energy to tackle insurmountable tasks and accomplish great feats every day in our lives. There are many qualities that help drive us, and many will be reflected in our top ten list, but inspiration affects all of us as we prepare to do our work for ourselves and others. It is the quality of thinking and feeling that will drive the quantity of the efforts and results we all want. Having an inspiration also gives us the hope that we, too, can achieve and become as great as those who have inspired us. 

 12. Friendly

Definition: kind, helpful, favorably disposed, inclined to approve, support, amicable, easy to understand,

Key Thoughts for Application: affable, amiable, attentive, beneficial, cordial, familiar, favorable, loyal, neighborly, peaceful, receptive, sympathetic, welcoming,

Friendly and friend are two of the qualities of traits students remember. They are not the same and I will I will define Friend next. Friendly is the manner in which we treat others. It encompasses the actions we strive to perform as we develop relationships with others. Good or bad, happy or sad, up or down, half full versus half empty glass, like or dislike, and many others; all of the combinations of comparison words that exude “positive” are forms of the friendly mannerisms that others would like to see when interacting with their memorable teacher.     

13. Friend

Definition:  a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard, a person who gives assistance; patron; supporter: a person who is on good terms with another

Key Thoughts for Application: ally, acquaintance, associate, buddy, colleague, companion, partner, cohort, pal,

Friendly is the feeling we get from others. A friend is the person who transmits the feelings and interaction we can trust, depend upon, can count on, and will always be there through thick and thin. There is a proven track record of the actions that one does to another that develops a “friendship” when we make personal contact each day. Sometimes, being a friend is difficult, and can put a teacher in a conflicting mode when things become personal and should remain professional. It’s a fine line and I always try to be friendly as a teacher during the school years, and let it develop into friendship later.

14. Patient

Definition: quietly and steadily persevering or diligent, especially in detail or exactness:

Key Thoughts for Application: calm, forgiving, gentle, tolerant, understanding, imperturbable, persistent, serene,  

There are many styles of learning. We all know in education one size doesn’t fit all. Students come into the classroom feeling pressure to perform. They come in with a “failure set” because it is all new and they are lacking, but ready, to make the next item become part of their knowledge repertoire. Learning is hard! We don’t always get it the first time. “Try, try, again” is the famous quote that identifies the need for teachers to be patient, as well as lower the anxiety that may debilitate the learner’s efforts and mitigate their success.  

15. Humorous

Definition: characterized by humor; funny; comical: having or showing the faculty of humor; droll; facetious:

Key Thoughts for Application: amusing, comical, droll, entertaining, hilarious, playful, pleasant, whimsical, witty

Humor is a skill. It is not being funny, cracking jokes, using sarcasm to incur a laugh, not a comedy routine, nor entertainment. Humor well placed can lighten the load, release the pressure, cut the tension, relieve anxiety, and make the day enjoyable despite what is at stake in the learning accountability process. FUN! No one should ever feel the humor is pointed at them. It will immediately shut down communication and eliminate a risk-free environment. Observations can be used to point out irony, conflicts, and anything that is aggressive that can create the tension among learners. Teachers also can use self-deprecation, which allows you to bridge the gap between student and teacher to reduce the chasm that sometimes creeps into the classrooms. We are all learners, and memorable teachers never forget this.   

16. Comfortable

Definition: being in a state of physical or mental comfort; contented and undisturbed; at ease: more than adequate or sufficient:

Key Thoughts for Application: appropriate, complacent, convenient, cozy, easy, enjoyable, happy, healthy, pleasant, pleased, relaxed, satisfying, useful, warm

Students get up in the morning, are rushed to get dressed, hurry to eat some breakfast (maybe), need to be at school before the bell, and have all of the assignments and tools present for the day as directed by the teacher. Conversely, teachers need to plan for the day. They must consider what they can do to make sure that the activities take into account everything needed for students to be productive and successful for the day. If students walk in on the clock or late, they feel they can never catch up. Plan to take the “rat race” out of their life. Make students feel comfortable and informed of the plans, schedule, expectations, and performances required for the day, with a review of the achievements that were successfully experienced. 

17. Respect

Definition: to hold in esteem or honor for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or ability, or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability: deference to a right, privilege, privileged position, or someone or something considered to have certain rights or privileges; proper acceptance or courtesy; acknowledgment

Key Thoughts for Application: appreciation, awe, consideration, deference, dignity, recognition, regard, reverence, tribute, adoration, homage, repute

Respect is what you give as well as whet you get (not take). Actions speak louder than words. Respect from students is a result of how they feel about you and the day you have planned, as well as how it was executed for them during the course of the day. Respect today is not given from fear and command. It is rewarded to the teacher who values the student and recognizes the impact of their deeds and accomplishments made on everyone’s behalf. Build their self-respect and there will be ample respect given to you/all.  

18. Knowledgeable

Definition: possessing or exhibiting knowledge, insight, or understanding; intelligent; well-informed; discerning; perceptive.

Key Thoughts for Application: appreciative, brilliant, conscious, informed, insightful, learned, smart, wise

This is an understatement. We are in school, right? The institution of learning thrives on the knowledge one can gain from a full day’s work at school. Every minute counts, so be ready and knowledgeable of the content, the feelings, and provide supports for each child in you care. School smarts and street smarts are demonstrated in the knowledge that each professional uses when they come in contact with the student. Be the most well-informed individual you can be. Then you will become the most memorable teacher that they ever had while attending your school.

19. Happy

Definition: delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing, characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy

Key Thoughts for Application: cheerful, ecstatic, elated, joyful, jubilant, lively, merry, overjoyed, pleasant, thrilled, upbeat, chipper, sparkling  

Happy falls into the qualitative aspect (not quantitative) of school. Being happy isn’t something that you can weigh. It’s not something that can be assessed. There is no formula that can be followed to assure happy is happening. Happy is a feeling that permeates an individual. It’s the continuous smile, an attitude of pleasance, it’s a positive demeanor toward incidents, and it’s the outlook you have for life. Happy can’t be taught. I look for happy people to be teachers. But it can be developed by focusing on good, and finding your affirmation for being a teacher. I had a typical response to adults when asked” how is it going?” I retorted “Great! If it was any better it would be illegal!” To kids I would say “this has been the best day of my life” with feeling that it assuredly had been.

  

20. Passionate

Definition: having, compelled by, or ruled by intense emotion or strong feeling; fervid: expressing, showing, or marked by intense or strong feeling; emotional

Key Thoughts for Application: ardent, aroused for information, stimulated, excited, enthusiastic, caring, afire, fervent, vehement, intense, raging, animated, dynamic, energetic,    

The passionate memorable teachers is one that exudes an aura that everything is the best it could be and there would be no better place to be than at school. That energy, and an intense work ethic and attitude, creates a feeling of love for the job. Teaching is not just a job, but a career marked with opportunities to make a difference for all at every turn and with every challenge. It’s loving what you do, and doing what you love. It permeates and oozes out of every action you take and reaction you make. I am an educator, not just a teacher. I try to make sure that everyone I have come into contact with remembers that. Make it a living and breathing commitment that all will walk away feeling.

Stephen Ahle Principal
Educator
2006 National Distinguished Principal
National Association of Elementary School Principals 

Impact vs Impression, Making a Difference 21-30

These set of traits make both an Impact as well as an Impression, and greatly influence by making a difference in the students’ lives. Making a Difference is another way of Becoming Memorable because the impact and impression of the educators’ interactions in events can change a person’s life. These traits are more frequently mentioned, up to 50% of the time, in surveys that were completed over the past 20 years.

21. Smart

Definition: quick or prompt in action, as persons, having or showing quick intelligence or ready mental capability, shrewd or sharp, clever, witty, or readily effective, as a speaker, speech, rejoinder, etc.

Key Thoughts for Application: agile, astute, bold, brilliant, crafty, quick, sharp, shrewd, wise, acute, knowing, clever

Teachers are role models. If they want the students to learn then they must themselves demonstrate what it is to be knowledgeable. Life-long learning has always been a key component to educational training for teachers. The example that you show will inspire others to become smarter with the learning each and every day of their life. Be what you want them to be!

 22. Color

Definition: the quality of an object or substance with respect to light reflected by the object, usually determined visually by measurement of hue, saturation, and brightness of the reflected light, saturation or Chroma, hue.

Key Thoughts for Application: Coloring, hue, texture, coloration  

One of the key components of any presentation, especially media, is the impact that color has on the brain and its efficiency to enhancing learning. Awareness of the power of color and use of it can attract or detract from the learning. Learning in a drab, dry, monochromatic wall environment is not enticing. The environment created needs to be as comfortable and engaging as we have in our homes. We all spend the second most time there beside our homes and it needs to be “livable.” Of all the students surveyed, half of them mentioned this trait. Its importance does make an impact and creates memorability. 

23. Colorful

Definition: richly eventful or picturesque, presenting or suggesting vivid or striking scenes

Key Thoughts for Application: vigorous, spirited, dynamic, bright, flashy, rich, vibrant, vivid

As with colors described above, a colorful environment can be achieved for many purposes. It is the motivating factor of calm or excitement, attention or retention, warmth or focus on content, and gives a reason to draw the students in each day on wonderment of posters and displays. At times the colorful displays transports the students to a land far away, or provides an experience they would never have been able to attend in their lifetime. 

24. Laughter

Definition: an inner quality, mood, disposition, etc., suggestive of laughter; mirthfulness, an expression or appearance of merriment or amusement.

Key Thoughts for Application: amusement, gesture, glee, hilarity, mirth, snicker, chortle, merriment, rejoicing, roaring,

Laughter has been associated with many psychological studies for enhancement, as well as cures for sad or challenging events. It creates a place where there is a feeling of enjoyment and “good times.” When one feels good they will stay longer, work harder, and put forth the effort to get more laughter, thus achieving a better feeling. Self-fulfilling prophecy. Today we need more students who continually feel better each day, as well as become the advocates for their experiences in the public eye.

25. Fair

Definition: explicitly stated, stipulated, or expressed, admitting of no question, stated, express, emphatic, confident in opinion or assertion, fully assured

Key Thoughts for Application: candid, civil, courteous, decent, generous, honest, honorable, impartial, objective, proper, reasonable, sincere, straightforward, sincere, unbiased

Being treated fairly transcends the location of all of the youth today. They want to feel that the person that is in charge of their life will make decisions, establish routines, and have expectations that are fair and meet their needs, not just be equal to all. Some may need more consideration and some less. However, the final impression should be that what you need was met with the actions of a memorable teacher.

26. Helpful

Definition: giving or rendering aid or assistance; of service:

Key Thoughts for Application: useful, convenient; beneficial, advantageous, accessible, constructive, cooperative, essential, friendly, productive, supportive, sympathetic, useful, valuable, caring, considerate

This is a no-brainer. Teachers are helpers, they always are. Sometimes they go overboard and the balance of helping and guiding is critical. Once a need is observed, decisions on how to and how much help needs to be determined. Remember the old proverb: give a fish, eat for the night; teach to fish, eat for their life. It’s all in the manner of how you offer and deliver that determines being helpful or interfering. Making sure that you meet the challenge of their quest so they feel the satisfaction of a job well-done is critical to the self-confidence of each learner. 

27. Kind

Definition: of a good or benevolent nature or disposition, as a person, having, showing, or proceeding from benevolence, indulgent, considerate, or helpful, humane (often followed by to), mild, gentle, clement

Key Thoughts for Application: amiable, compassionate, cordial, courteous, friendly, gentle, gracious, kindhearted, sympathetic, thoughtful, understanding, altruistic, amicable, beneficent,

School is hard. It is demanding to learn. The rigor and of all the demands to meet the standards for the year weigh on teacher and student alike. Learning is Failure because we are blank slates from the start of each year. The approach and reaction teachers make to the failure of students has a tremendous impact to the expectations they feel entering the gates of school, as well as the non-academic interactions that occur among all arriving each day.

28. Supportive

Definition: giving support, providing sympathy or encouragement, providing additional help, information, etc., auxiliary

Key Thoughts for Application: abetting, ancillary, backup, complementary, contributory, subordinate, subsidiary

Supportive and helpful are similar. When completing the survey students often try to convince all that they are the same. Helpful is the result of a teacher action felt by a student at the end of the task. Supportive, usually, is what students feel during the activity. As said before, school is hard. When doing a task there is anxiety, pressure, intense self-scrutiny, and at times educators observe students “beating” themselves up for simple mistakes. A mistake is an opportunity to learn and do something better. Edison failed over 1,000 times before he invented the light bulb which was far better for all than the use of candles and fire for light. That aha moment is why we support, encourage, and stand by the learner in their journey.

29. Interactive

Definition: acting one upon or with the other, of or relating to a two-way system of electronic communications, as by means of television or computer, interacting with a human, often in a conversational way, to obtain data and to give immediate results or updated information

Key Thoughts for Application: collective, reciprocal, associated, connected, correlative, dependent, give-and-take, interchange, joint, participated, two-sided,

The days of the sit-and-get lecture are coming to an end. Teaching is not the critical event of the day. The result in learning for all is now the goal, and educators need to frame the opportunities to maximize the student ownership of the learning, risks they take, and the results. Educators who engage with individual students and/or groups of students, facilitate their progress down the paths of the exercises, and stay connected to their progress in learning create a climate of involvement for success.

30. Understanding

Definition: mental process of a person who comprehends, comprehension, personal interpretation, intellectual faculties, intelligence, mind, superior power of discernment, enlightened intelligence, knowledge of or familiarity with a particular thing, skill in dealing with or handling something, a state of cooperative or mutually tolerant relations between people

Key Thoughts for Application: Compassionate, considerate, empathetic, forgiving, generous, kindly, perceptive, sympathetic, sensitive, responsive  

Understanding has been referred to as the comprehension skill in the learning process. It is much more for educators. To Become Memorable, they need to have an understanding of the needs of the kids, be perceptive to the events occurring in front of them, and have the ability to adapt as well as intervene for the academic/social/emotional needs that present themselves. Learning is hard, but educating is immensely complex. Teachers continue to work harder each day. In order to stay healthy and sharp, the solution is to work smarter in understanding and dealing with the complex needs of the students.

Stephen Ahle Principal
Educator
2006 National Distinguished Principal
National Association of Elementary School Principals