Term 4 Week 9: Being a Teacher

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It’s the end of 2014 – time to think about what we are, what we do and why we do it in this crazy, awe-inspiring profession of ours... standing in front of young minds every day: entertaining, leading, suggesting, facilitating, questioning, supporting...the list goes on. So here are some possible answers to the question – What do you do?



11 Habits of an Effective Teacher to consider for 2015


  1. ENJOYS TEACHING.
    Teaching is meant to be a very enjoyable and rewarding career field (although demanding and exhausting at times!). You should only become a teacher if you love children and intend on caring for them with your heart. Let your passion for teaching shine through each and everyday. Enjoy every teaching moment to the fullest.

  2. MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
    There is a saying, "With great power, comes great responsibility". As a teacher, you need to be aware and remember the great responsibility that comes with your profession. One of your goals ought to be: Make a difference in their lives.

  3. SPREADS POSITIVITY.
    Bring positive energy into the classroom every single day. Don't let other people's negativity bring you down with them.

  4. GETS PERSONAL.
    This is the fun part and absolutely important for being an effective teacher! Get to know your students and their interests so that you can find ways to connect with them.

  5. GIVES 100%.
    Whether you are delivering a lesson, writing report cards or offering support to a colleague - give 100%. Never give up and try your best - that's all that you can do.

  6. STAYS ORGANIZED.
    Never fall behind on the marking or filing of students' work. Try your best to be on top of it and not let the pile grow past your head! It will save you a lot of time in the long run. It is also important to keep an organized planner and plan ahead!

  7. IS OPEN-MINDED.
    As a teacher, there are going to be times where you will be observed formally or informally (that's also why you should give 100% at all times). Prove that you are the effective teacher that you want to be. Nobody is perfect and there is always room for improvement. Sometimes, others see what you fail to see.

  8. HAS STANDARDS.
    Create standards for your students and for yourself. From the beginning, make sure that they know what is acceptable versus what isn't. As the saying goes, "Practice what you preach".

  9. FINDS INSPIRATION.
    An effective teacher is one who is creative but that doesn't mean that you have to create everything from scratch!

  10. EMBRACES CHANGE.
    In life, things don't always go according to plan. This is particularly true when it comes to teaching. Be flexible and go with the flow when change occurs. Instead of stressing about change, embrace it with both hands and show that you are capable of hitting every curve ball that comes your way!

  11. CREATES REFLECTIONS.
    An effective teacher reflects on their teaching to evolve as a teacher. Think about what went well and what you would do differently next time.



From: Carrie Lam. 11 Habits of an Effective Teacher, Edutopia, 7 May 2014.

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