Have you ever wondered if you would make a good teacher? I certainly have so I’m currently on the path to find out. As an education major I have had many experiences where I have gotten to witness first hand why a lot of people say teaching is hard. Surprisingly, this has not led me to stray away from the one profession I have been interested in my entire life. Below are a few characteristics a teacher must have to excel at what they do.
1. Patience, a gift not everyone has.
Let’s be honest, even the most patient person we know has a breaking point. Well in the teaching profession we encounter so many different challenges and quirks that test our patience on the daily. For example, you may have the usual student pressing your buttons for attention. You may also have the student that is struggling with a concept that requires extra help in order to digest the information you are teaching. Either way, you learn to work through both scenarios because you genuinely love your students. It’s also important to realize at the end of the day they are just kids!
2. Empathy, the key to staying.
Teachers are angels with the biggest hearts. In today’s society you will never know what your students may be going through at home. This is why empathy is key. As a teacher you have to be able to relate or at least pretend to relate and feel for each and every one of your students. Be able to meet them in the middle and support them because they may be going through rough times at home. Empathy however, is not such an easy feeling to come by. It can be especially hard to be empathetic towards a situation you may never be able to relate to. Which is why this profession is not for everyone, because on the daily basis you will have to be able to show how much you care for these tiny humans with big feelings.
3. Communication, an essential part of life.
Lastly, being able to communicate will work miracles. Great communication skills are the foundation of being a good teacher. Not only will you have to be able to communicate with your students but also their families. A lot of times there will be language barriers and you will have to go out of your way to make sure that information is getting relayed to the families so that both you and your student are successful in the classroom. Know that communication looks different for everyone and will not work the same for every single situation either. However, if you are willing to put in the effort, the families in your classroom will definitely appreciate that.
Of course teaching is not always going to be sunshines and rainbows. However, if you truly enjoy working with kids and are willing to put in the work to strengthen the skills mentioned above you should give it a try. Do not let this article stray you away from this profession! It is a very rewarding and a respectable career that not everybody is built for. The world needs more teachers who care about their students and are genuinely in it because of their passion.
Next time you see one of your teachers, thank them. It is not easy!