Teaching has so many components. It covers mental, emotional, academic, social, physical, and often spiritual territory, forming and impacting children, and therefore forming and impacting the future. Teachers have the responsibility of guiding children through these fields, encouraging, challenging, and caring as each student discovers the world around them.
Caring for the individual needs of each child is crucial. Everyone learns differently. Each child brings their own unique background, expectations, experiences, fears, and hopes into the classroom. These need to be respected and acknowledged. I thrive when meeting and getting to know new people, and teaching is a career that will allow me to work with a new group of students every year. It will build my personal and professional skillset, and I am so excited to develop alongside my students.
I admire teachers who follow the motto, “Everyone in this classroom is a student and a teacher.” These teachers know their limitations, are not afraid to make mistakes and learn from them, and by doing so offer their students an example of resilience and flexibility. I also understand the importance of establishing authority and maintaining control to create a healthy classroom environment.
One of my goals is to foster community within the classroom. I hope my students view each of their classmates as a friend, valuing kindness and caring for one another. I hope to be approachable and to further my ability to understand a student’s needs.
Some of the qualities I have appreciated in my teachers are creativity, discipline, enthusiasm, drive, and the ability to put themselves in their students’ place. It is important to think of how lessons and activities will affect students and to try to see their perspective. For example, using all capital letters or unusual fonts in the classroom might be confusing and harmful for the development of proper writing skills. Or older students might really appreciate when a teacher grades their work efficiently. It is a helpful exercise to view an assignment or activity through the eyes of a student.
In high school, I began to compile a list of “Teacher Do’s and Dont’s.” These were traits and practices that I experienced in my classes, which I either enjoyed or would rather avoid. I can refer to this list as a teacher, reminding myself of what it is like to be a student, and allowing myself to be a student and a lifelong learner as I adapt. As my teachers taught me English, Statistics, German, and Chemistry, they also taught me how to relate to students and make an impact.
Although this list began in high school, I have known I’ve wanted to be a teacher since I was little. Being around children makes me happy, as well as explaining ideas or processes to people and helping them reach understanding. As I take my first steps towards becoming a teacher, I will keep in mind my standards, goals, and the lessons I have already learned, applying them to the lessons I will teach.