The teachers I admire most are those who remain
intellectually curious and professionally vital both inside and outside the
classroom for decades. They avoid stagnation at all costs and maintain an
enviable passion for children and the learning process. They remain vivid in
the students' memories forever because of their creativity, sense of fun, and
compassion.
| Good Teacher |
I've seen teachers who worked for hours on their lessons,
who were scholars in the field fail miserably, and I've seen teachers who, if
you give five minutes before they walked in to glance over their material, they
could run a class for an hour on any topic under the sun.
Teaching is one of the most complicated jobs today. It
demands broad knowledge of subject matter, curriculum, and standards;
enthusiasm, a caring attitude, and a love of learning; knowledge of discipline
and classroom management techniques; and a desire to make a difference in the
lives of young people. With all these qualities required, it's no wonder that
it's hard to find great teachers.
The most effective teachers expect great accomplishments
from their students, and they don't accept anything less. When teachers believe
each and every student can soar beyond any imagined limits, the children will
sense that confidence and work with the teacher to make it happen. The best
teachers think outside the box, outside the classroom, and outside the norm. As
much as possible, top teachers try to
make classroom experiences exciting and memorable for the students. They seek
ways to give their students a real world application for knowledge, taking
learning to the next action-packed level.
The most effective educators bring their entire selves to
the job. They celebrate student successes, show compassion for struggling
parents, tell stories from their own lives, laugh at their mistakes, share
their unique quirks, and aren't afraid to be imperfectly human in front of
their students. Fortunately we are very lucky that there so many best schools in India which offer such efficient
teachers. They understand that teachers don't just deliver curriculum, but
rather the best teachers are inspiring leaders that show students how should
behave in all areas of life and in all types of situations. Top teachers admit
it when they don't know the answer. They apologize when necessary and treat
students with respect.
For those of us aiming to increase these qualities in our
professional lives, it can be intimidating to think that we have to do
everything all at once. Instead, I recommend choosing one of these qualities to
focus on each school year and expand your repertoire slowly but surely. Even
the most successful teachers have to start somewhere!
