ALT-6 What Abilities must you have to become a Teacher
Sure this question seems simple enough, but there's a lot more to being a good teacher than most people realize. In order to teach a classroom full of students a teacher needs a variety of qualities. They need to be innovative, understanding, and willing to change. In this article I will explain in full what each of these qualities entails.
When I say that a teacher needs to be innovative I mean this in a variety of ways. Their lesson plans need to be fresh. They cannot reuse the same lessons every year without changing them. To do so will ensure that the teacher falls into a rut in which their students will suffer. Teachers also need to understand new technology that is currently being implemented in classrooms. A few years ago teachers only had to understand how to use an overhead projector. However, with the advent of the internet and programs such as Power Point, teachers have to make sure they can keep up with these changes and adapt their teaching styles. A teacher can't hope to teach generation after generation with the same old techniques, they need to be able to adapt their lessons to their class.
The schools and cities that teachers work at can change or simply be different from what they are used to. For this reason, teachers need to be able to work with a variety of students. Someone who grew up in a middle class family can have a difficult time teaching students in a poor urban environment. However, good teachers can overcome problems like this and learn to understand a variety of students. They must be aware that people learn differently from one another and adapt to individuals needs. Teachers cannot possibly hope that each student will always understand their lesson the way they are teaching it. They need to be able to teach a lesson in a variety of ways in order to ensure every student comprehends it. Teachers are trained professionals who need to overcome a variety of issues that may make their job difficult. They will have students of different cultural and economic backgrounds and even students with various disabilities that will make teaching them a challenge.
The last, and probably most important quality that teachers must posses is the ability to change. I've already stated that a teacher must be willing to adapt their teaching styles to changes in technology and to the various students they will teach. However, they must also be willing to recognize their own shortcomings and change themselves. Teachers don't all have to be fun and outgoing, but they must all be willing to do what it takes to teach their students. If they find that they are unable to adapt and change to their students needs then they will not be benefiting anyone.
A lot of people like to joke that teachers only teach because they can't do anything else or because they enjoy the summer vacation breaks. However, think of all of your teachers that have given you lesson plans using Power Point or linked you to videos on Youtube because they were appropriate for a particular class. Five years ago there weren't many teachers who could or would use a computer to teach a class. Teachers need to be motivated to work hard for their students. They need to strive hard to keep up with the world and their students in order to continue educating the masses.
