Everyone has memories of childhood school experiences. Growing up, one’s experiences go straight to the core, with filters still yet to be developed to regulate their impact. Some of them will gradually dissolve into each other and, with time, be absorbed by body and mind. Others will create an indelible and unique stamp within long-term memories, periodically asserting themselves and coloring future experiences.
As educators it is our responsibility to be conscious of the potential impact we may have on our students. Our role is not only to do our best in delivering information to students but to see each student as an individual and engage in a way that promotes a healthy exchange. We can challenge students to achieve success, while at the same time being aware that each student is going to take a different path and may ultimately arrive at different destinations. You envision the potential for every student and do your best to steer them through inevitable challenges.
The importance of your role as an educator should not be underestimated. While students come and go, and some of them may not remember you beyond a year or two after, you never know when your presence, your comments, or your actions will resonate and remain with a student for years to come.
Teaching is a dialogue. You deliver information, observe the response, and respond accordingly. Be receptive to verbal, physical, and emotional feedback. Things you say can have an impact over a lifetime. Comments and actions that you don’t give a second thought to, positive or negative, can remain in the memory of a student for years. Choose your words, tone, and behavior with care.
Teaching requires respect. Respect goes both ways. Teachers must show respect to the student, as students should demonstrate respect to the teacher. Learn the boundaries of being kind, encouraging, stern, and critical without crossing over into negative realms of rude, disrespectful behavior, or laxity and negligence.
Teaching requires patience. Students do not all learn on the same timeline. That’s normal. As long as forward progress is being made, learning is happening, even if it is occurring slower than planned. Expressing frustration benefits no one.
Teaching requires observation. We need to look beyond what students actually say and how they perform. The short period of time spent with a student each day is only a fraction of their daily experience. Observing behavior and mood can be revealing and help you connect more effectively with a student.
Teaching requires flexibility and creativity. We each have our individual style and approach to teaching. Sometimes a change in method or detour from the plan is required. Sticking with your plan if it is not working for a student will not result in a positive outcome. Teachers need to recognize when they should adapt and change direction, and have the willingness to do so.
Teaching requires a commitment to continuing education. The education of a teacher doesn’t stop with a degree. We need to actively engage in a life-long process of educating ourselves, whether it be through workshops and books, or conversations with fellow colleagues. An ever expanding knowledge of your subject area and the art of teaching will only enhance your ability to teach effectively and efficiently.
We have all been students, and we have all been teachers in one way or another, whether it’s your profession or you’ve trained an employee, helped a neighbor or friend learn a new skill, or assisted your own child. If you are currently a teacher or hope to join the profession, your past relevant experiences can inform your approach to teaching. What did or didn’t work for you as a student? What was the classroom experience like for you? What was it about the teachers that inspired you or motivated you? And equally important, what did teachers do that may have had a negative impact on your learning experience?
While learning how to teach and making sure we understand the subject that we are teaching is critical, taking into account the experience of both sides is vital. Not every student may have the same passion for the subject you are teaching, but the experience of learning should not unnecessarily cause misery for anyone. We can never truly know exactly what influence we are having on our students, but our goal should always be to create a safe and productive space for our students to learn. We can have high standards and at the same time find a way to be both encouraging and demanding without unnecessary negative criticism, and flexible without unproductive rigidity. Meanwhile the goal is always kept in sight and the journey there is better for everyone.