What Abilities must you have to become a Teacher
As with any other career with many workers, teachers come in all shapes and sizes. They have all different varieties of teaching methods, rules, and attitudes. They do, however, have a few things in common when they are successful:
1) Patience.
No matter how long you've been working, or who you're working for, you will invariably come across at least one student per quarter, semester, or year, who pushes every button known to man. These students will try your patience to the point where you think that they must have had you followed to see what you pet peeves are, since that is always what they do in your class. However, successful instructors are able to put this annoyance aside in order to do their job. These instructors are able to realize that their reason for being in the school is to teach the students, including the one annoying them. This doesn't mean that you must lie down and take whatever the student dishes out, but it does mean that you must maintain your own integrity and skill as an instructor. So, do not allow the student to get the best of you, but rise above the negative influence to do your job even better.
2) A unique characteristic or quality.
Every successful instructor I know or have heard of has something about them that sets them apart. This something makes them more memorable to the students, and the more memorable the instructor is, the more memorable their class (and the information therein) will be. Such a characteristic or quality may be a way of speaking or standing, a way of providing the class information, a way of dressing, and so on. Find something in you that you can celebrate in the classroom (professionally), and use that to help set you apart.
3) An appropriate attitude.
A successful instructor needs to know what is expected of them in their position, and work within those boundaries. Private schools, for instance, do not often appreciate an instructor who comes to work out of uniform, or with their uniform put on improperly. Most schools do not appreciate an instructor who comes to work, and tries to be one of the kids they are instructing. Know the difference between working at the kids' level, and trying to get to the kids' level. Also, be approachable but professional. Knowledgeable but not arrogant, and so forth.
4) Knowledge of their subject.
Be sure to gain a thorough, almost to the point of exceptional, knowledge of whatever topic you wish to instruct. Do not make the mistake of thinking that you can just get the certification to teach and then go teach. A deeper understanding of your topic is required so that you can be sure to be able to answer the majority of the questions that will be posed to you in your classes. If you only have a rudimentary grasp of your topic, how are your students supposed to learn as much as they should? Also, how are those students supposed to maintain respect for you as an instructor if you appear to not know what you're talking about?
5) Current information and certificates.
Be sure to stay up-to-date as much as possible on your topic of choice. Especially in fields such as American Government, and Science, where new information is constantly being made available. The more you know about what is going on in today's world, the better equipped you will be in your classroom.
Also be sure to keep up on your certifications. If you find out that a new certification is available in your field, go and take the course. There is no harm in adding more information to your reportoire, and great good in having all available certificates listed on your resume.
