Are you thinking about becoming an elementary school teacher? If you possess all or most of these personal qualities, I think you could contribute a lot to children, the community, and the field of Education. While there is no static formula for what makes an excellent educator, these personality traits form the essential foundation for succeeding in the classroom as an instructor and as a leader.
Are You Compassionate?
The best teachers are patient, understanding, and kind. They can put themselves in their students’ shoes and imagine what the students are thinking and feeling, thus anticipating what they need in order to learn and thrive. When a student is struggling, good teachers hide their frustration and refrain from making disdainful comments that only make the situation worse. Instead, compassionate teachers will try anything and everything in order to reach each and every student. It can be challenging at times, but great teachers know that what separates them from the rest of the pack is the heart and soul they bring into the classroom.
Are You Passionate?
Effective teachers are passionate about many things: children, learning, their chosen subject matter, the art of teaching, and life in general. They bring the full force of their personalities into the classroom and spark excitement into the learning process. While it can be challenging to maintain a high level of passion over the course of a long career, the most outstanding teachers actively cultivate ways to reignite love for the job and the world of Education. When their students enter the classroom each morning, they can instantly sense that the teacher is there for them, with a high energy enthusiasm that makes learning anything more exciting.
Are You Persistent?
Teachers absolutely can not give up. As challenging as the job can be at times, the best teachers know that their diligence and commitment to getting the job done well are the engines that fuel the whole classroom operation.
Are You Up for Challenges?
Teachers can’t give up or be easily discouraged from meeting their students’ learning goals. They should expect to encounter roadblocks and obstacles, but they must remain single-minded in their focus on both short- and long-term objectives. Moreover, effective teachers accept the inherently difficult nature of the teaching profession as part of the overall fulfilling nature of their careers. This relentless commitment to excellence is contagious on campus and adds an intangible value to the students’ experience.
Are You Results-Oriented?
Through informative assessments, utilization of the latest pedagogical techniques, attention to detail, and sheer willpower, the best teachers use all the tools at their disposal in order to help their students meet or exceed expectations. It’s also important for teachers to be results-oriented and always on the lookout for the latest instructional innovation. When their professional diligence pays off with student triumph, these teachers are reinvigorated and recommitted to their mission as educators.
Are You Creative and Curious?
Empowered teachers accept the dynamic nature of classroom teaching and don’t try to fight it. Instead, they tap into their inner curiosity about what makes individuals tick and chart innovative courses to meet a variety of unique needs. Effective teachers make a difference in their students’ lives by thinking outside the box and being fearless in employing techniques that have never been tried before. Instead of finding this process exhausting or frustrating, these educators come to enjoy the unknowns and enigmas that crop up each school year because they get to apply their creative problem-solving skills in fresh ways on an ongoing basis.
Are You Optimistic?
Don’t even think about becoming a teacher if you are a “glass half empty” type of person. The concept of self-fulfilling prophecy plays a huge role in teaching because teacher expectations often determine student outcomes. In other words, good teachers know that their students will only succeed to the extent that they are encouraged and believed in. By approaching each student with only the highest of expectations, these educators visualize student success long before it actually occurs. This is one of the most magical aspects of being a teacher.
Are You Flexible?
There is no such thing as a “typical” day in the life of a classroom teacher. Thus, good teachers approach each day with an open mind and a sense of humor. They aren’t easily discouraged by bumps in the road or hiccups in the schedule, whether these issues be big or small. With a multitude of factors impacting every minute of the day, strong educators must be willing to bend when necessary, with a smile.
By: Mrs. Helen E. De Guzman | Master Teacher I | Bonifacio Camacho National High School | Abucay, Bataan
