Monday, December 6, 2010

The Qualities it Takes to Be an Outstanding Teacher

An outstanding teacher deeply and truly cares about each and every students. One must build outstanding and passionate relationships with each and every one of your students, even the ones that prove to be difficult or can give the teacher a hard time. It is the job as a teacher to reach each and every single student in your classroom. Whether that is through telling personal stories of both triumphs and failures, or relating to youth through pop culture, or attending students sporting events, each and every student must understand and feel that one truly and deeply has their best interest at heart. The teacher is there to change and impact lives and souls. This is perhaps, the most important skill or attribute and at the same time the most difficult one to master. While there is no specific training or module that one can study, teachers must be able to relate to students on their level, which is often just being human, vulnerable, open, funny, and model behavior in which others wish to aspire to. If students understand that you truly care about them as individuals then they will clearly see that the classroom is a place where respect, truth and power are shared rather kept in the hands of one single solitary person.

In this way, classroom management is one in which everyone shares in and values. The teacher, while is certainly the one guiding and motivating and inspiring, s/he does not have to do it in a way that uses threats or consequences, but rather positive reinforcement and acknowledging and celebrating student successes. The ability to create a warm and positive classroom environment, allows for true and natural learning to take place on personal as well as social and academic levels. A teacher in a real sense must have that unique ability to both see students where they are and meet them there and also see their potential and where they need to go. The teacher must be a motivator and a counselor, and create a classroom of high expectations, understanding, and preparing youth for college, careers and life long learning. Teachers must be advocates for youth and at the same time, challenge, inspire and motivate all students to exemplary performance in all areas of their lives.

An outstanding teacher has a deep understanding of both content and real world experiences. The teacher structures the classroom as a place of organization and breaks down larger concepts and ideas into smaller and manageable knowledge. The teacher uses an interdisciplinary approach consistently linking content in the classroom with other subjects. An outstanding teacher uses what kids are learning in the classroom and ties it to the community, the world and neighborhoods in way that engages students to learn. This content and work then contributes to students being prepared for college and for life as the teacher consistently ties in college prep work as much as possible. A rigorous experience both inside the classroom and outside of it encourages students to come alive. Students in this teacher’s classroom are active, contributing members of their community and their work improves conditions for others.

An outstanding teacher contributes to the overall culture of the school and cares about the well being of all students in the school. This teacher also collaborates well with other teachers, discussing on how to reach particular students, cross-curricular opportunities, and reaches out to parents regularly to acknowledge positive student work. At staff meetings, he or she contributes to conversations and assist the administration in ensuring that policies and procedures best suite the entire school community. This outstanding in all ways conducts professionalism, passion and a high level of integrity to ensure that all youth receive an exemplary education.

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