At the end of the day, a teacher is a person who believes the most important gift they can give the world is shaping the next generation. I believe that each human in this world has life experiences that are of value to the young, but there are is a subsection of people who choose to dedicate their lives to the mission of shaping the future; and they are teachers.
- Above all, teachers are knowledgeable and intelligent. They are seeking to improve their own minds, and acknowledge that it’s not always just what you know but how you can use what you know and apply it to life.
- Teachers are also creative. It can be tempting in life to admire the accomplishments of others and attempt to emulate them. But teachers know that when they let the limits go; and dare to imagine something new is when true personal development happens. Teachers also admire the creativity of their students. Of course it’s important to structure time and place expectations on behavior, but when you identify the creative individual and learn how to celebrate it, that’s when you develop the relationships that last a lifetime.
- Teachers are reflective and introspective. We may be seen as heroes by our students, but ultimately we are humans and we are still learning ourselves. Demonstrating the humility to acknowledge our weaknesses and then working on improving them is the hallmark of a great teacher. Even more importantly when you model that attribute for your students they will mimic it and become better citizens because of that.
- Teachers are honest and well spoken. A teacher that knows how to give feedback to their students and colleagues will run a successful classroom. Giving feedback in a way that builds is powerful; it can take a student from a mediocre thinker to a great thinker. It can help a student think about math in a positive way. It is powerful.
- To get along with others you also have to have an element of collaborative, to look at yourself as a mentor. To be a teacher is to accept that you influence your students and shape their futures. It really is a gift, as an educator you get the responsibility and privileged to guide your students towards a better version of themselves.
When I was going to college for teaching I was told by numerous people that “You were either born a teacher or you weren’t”. While that’s surely debatable, the reality of that statement is that there are qualities that make a teacher great. But I attach some weight to number 3; reflection is the epitome of growth, and ultimately a quality all teachers should possess.
Amanda Grace 