A Dream Begins With One
First time teachers often wonder what skills are necessary in order to make an effective teacher that can reach the minds and the hearts of their students. How can one person teach children or young adults’ math, English, history, and science but also instill a desire to learn and the ability to succeed in a future that is unknown? According to Great Schools, “teaching is one of the most complicated jobs today” which requires a broad range of knowledge in subject matter, curriculum, and standards along with things that can’t always be taught like enthusiasm, a caring attitude, and a love for learning. Teachers also need to have knowledge in classroom management and discipline plus the innate desire to make a difference in the lives of our young people and society as a whole.
So what is it that sets great teachers apart from ones that lack that certain something? The first tip is to set high expectation for all students and to not give up on underachievers. Children need something to reach for and if students have a teacher that doesn’t expect much of them then they won’t reach their maximum potential in the classroom. The second tip is to have clear, written objectives that clearly state what the class will be learning, what the assignments are, and the grading policy for those assignments. The third tip is to be prepared and organized in the classroom so the lessons are structured and precise. As with anything you do, it is very important for teachers to be experts in the subject or subjects they are teaching and to teach in an enthusiastic manner. The fourth and fifth tip is to engage the students and create strong relationships with the children. Teachers need to keep their students motivated and make a conscious effort to include the entire class rather than paying more attention to certain students that the teacher easily clicks with. Teachers also need to show their students that they care about them as people by being warm, accessible, and caring. The final tip is to keep in contact with parents by sending out written reports and scheduling conferences.
Teaching is a difficult job that requires a great deal of skill and a desire to make the world a better place. It takes time and experience to establish ideas that can reach students with different skill levels and personality traits. A great teacher needs to constantly evaluate him or her self and their lesson plans. You can’t just wake up one day and be a great teacher. As Dan Rather, the journalist, once said, “the dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called “truth.””
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