Student violins

It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge. Albert Einstein Effective teaching has been the goal of many an educationist, parent, professional teachers and others. Many a claim has been made but few have that elusive and right balance of knowledge, transactional skills, emotional intelligence and the life skills necessary to be an effective teacher. It is always a productive exercise to dwell and ponder on the attributes necessary for a good teacher.

Students- a measure of your success

A teacher should always remember that students are central to the profession. They and they alone are the real measures of ones success. Therefore catering to all aspects of the students well-being and development is a vital concern to effective teaching.

Goal Setting

The real purpose of teaching is goal setting. An efficient teacher shows the students a goal as far ahead as both can perceive. Good teaching should, while showing the real world of facts and nature strive to show the imaginary world for understanding, each revealing and complementing the other.

Reviews, redressals, reinforcement

Good teaching integrates repetition but in different methods and approaches, so that each unit of knowledge or concept or an idea is revisited and perceived at different times in different ways but yet strengthening the core concept each time.

Ask, Seek, Knock

A good teacher leads the students to ask, to seek and to knock, he leads him to discoveries of his own .It is truly said by Anatole France

,Awaken people's curiosity. It is enough to open minds, do not overload them. Put there just a spark. When a student thus led, arrives at

Inferences, they will be to him the timeless and choicest jewels of knowledge.

Knowledge and Know-How

A good teacher has a good command of his subject. It is not enough to be erudite, for it is often seen that just command over content does not make one effective. Good communication skills and a creative and enthusiastic presentation can make even the most drab and dull content come alive. It is also necessary to show the students where this is relevant to him and to what possible extent it leads him.

Acceptance and Approval

A good teacher forgets his individuality. His excellence and attributes are good only to the degree that they help the students. Acceptance and approval of the students as they are is much needed on the part of the teacher. To complain is futile and to ignore him is a sure path to failure. Teachers should not only guide their intellect but also remember that the student is by and large driven by emotion.

Old builds the New

Knowledge rests on knowledge; what is new is meaningful because it departs slightly from what was known before. Robert Oppenheimer

Relating new thought to what he knows is important, because that is a pillar of learning- leading him from known to the unknown, from simple to complex, from the concrete to the abstract. It is a good idea to study the ladder approach and go from level to level. This rules out lacunae and ensures concept learning, which is rare rather than the much prevalent perceptual learning.

Self- help Skills

A teacher should let the student work. He should be led with self- help skills, tools, procedures, styles, methods and means. Work is remembered long after words are forgotten. The ancient wisdom of the Chinese says it all Give me a fish and I eat for a day. Teach me to fish and I eat for a lifetime.

Nature the healer and teacher

Nature is the greatest teacher of all. Both the teacher and the taught should spend a few moments with nature for Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher. William Wordsworth A teacher should also remember to provide light, air and quiet for all his work is lost if attention fails.

Persona- The Mask

The personality of a successful teacher should have these key traits, a strong positive approach, sensitive and perceptive temperament, consistent character, flexibility of nature and work, unfailing fairness in all dealings, should aim at high expectations from self and students and above all a strong sense of humor which is the very lifeblood of the youth whom we teach.

A Positive Approach

Every transaction is full of challenges, pitfalls, unforeseen changes, and obstacles to executions of a plan and so on and so forth. A strong positive approach imparts this life skill to the students and reduces stress for both the teacher and the taught

Consistent Character

A student should know what to expect of us everyday. It is a good idea to leave the baggage at the door before you enter the class and face the students. It all makes a healthy learning environment

A Sensitive and Perceptive Temperament

An observant teacher who is also sensitive can establish rapport and strong bonds, which in turn promote learning through motivation. One of the reasons the child dislikes school is the anonymity that most experience in large classes, with sometimes even their names being not known. A teachers knowledge of different learning styles, multiple intelligences and personality types can help a child develop a feeling of self-worth, development of abilities and also promote learning.

Flexibility Of Nature And Work

A teacher who is willing to adapt, organise resources and learning material with the minimum available in a jiffy is indeed flexible and productive. Rigidity often undermines all aspects of learning

Elevating Benchmarks

The path to excellence is this. We get more when we expect more. It also makes a teacher better and better.

Fairness

A fair teacher treats all students equally in similar contexts and situations. This is a very important trait, which builds the credibility of the teacher

A Sense Of Humour

It adds warmth, life, diffuses tense moments, relieves stressful situations and builds strong and spontaneous interpersonal skills

If every teacher strives with this checklist, our schools can definitely be the beacons of a brighter tomorrow.

Next Article

Banner Ads