Teaching is a profession that requires many important skills. Teachers are much more than their title. They are also often nurses, counselors, mediators, moms and dads, life skill coaches, and role models. Teachers also have high demands for academic success and a lot of planning and paperwork. In order for a teacher to be successful, they have to develop and utilize the following skills.
Relationship Builder
This is the most important skill a teacher needs in their tool belt. It is imperative that teachers know this and establish positive, caring relationships with their students. Students know when teachers are being sincere, and if they know and understand that they care for them and about them then the sky’s the limit. Students will work hard for someone they know is invested in them. This also helps students feel comfortable talking to teachers regarding things they are worried about or if they are having issues at home. Teachers need to remember to put connections before content; this will make all the difference for them and their students.
Classroom Management
This is a skill that must be fine-tuned over time. Novice teachers usually need some help in this area from their mentor. However, any teacher will have better results if they have taken the time to build relationships with students. Classroom management is imperative for learning to take place. If students are not on task and engaged, a teacher can have the world’s best lesson plan and it won’t matter. Teachers should have a plan and keep it consistent. Students do not respond well if a teacher is continuously changing the classroom management system.
Organization/Time Management
A teacher must be organized and have excellent time management skills. There are a few reasons for this. One reason is that instructional time is lost if teachers are unorganized and do not have good time management. Teachers must have their materials ready for the day before the day begins. They must also keep an eye out on the time when teaching a whole or small group lesson and make sure that they do not borrow from one subject to give to another. If students are having trouble with a concept, the teacher should make notes and come back to it the next day. Otherwise they will get behind in other things they need to teach.
Another reason teachers must be organized and have good time management is so they can have a work-life balance. If teachers are unorganized and lack time management, they can spend endless hours looking for things and completing things that could be finished in a reasonable amount of time. Teachers have so much on their plate to manage, they shouldn’t waste time with things that are in their control.
Excellent Communication Skills
This one is a biggie! Parents send us their most prized possessions each day. They trust us to take care of their children, love them, and teach them. They want to know what is going on. Communication should be clear and friendly. Teachers also need to know when to call a parent versus sending an email. Yes, email is quick and easy, but sometimes a situation can be handled much easier if you pick up the phone and call. Parents can ask questions in real time and can hear a teacher’s tone rather than getting offended by something that could easily be misconstrued in an email. Teachers should also send a weekly newsletter and have a platform such as SeeSaw or Remind for parents to utilize.
