The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
Teacher Helping Others Succeed
As a teacher, you want the very best for your students, and you want to help them succeed. For many teachers, it isn’t just about a paycheck – it’s about shaping our youth into becoming productive and successful members of society! When a student succeeds, it is in part of the teachers who have made an impact on their lives and gave them the knowledge and guidance to fulfill their dreams.
Today, we are going to talk about the ways a teacher can help their students succeed, not just in the classroom, but in life.
What Does it Take to Be a Teacher?
Anyone with a bachelor’s degree can begin the process of becoming a teacher, but that doesn’t mean those teachers will be a good teacher. That said, if you wish to become a good or even great teacher, there are a ton of online resources that explain what makes a good teacher.
To help you get started, here are a few examples of a good teacher:
Have a good method and practice for teaching students
Will have their standards for what success is
Create a respectful and democratic environment in the classroom
Join a group of teachers who inspire continued improvement and learning
Will be dedicated to their students and the classroom
Other than these qualities, there are some practices a teacher can do in the classroom that will help the student succeed later in life.
One strategy to create an academic environment in the classroom is for a teacher to set high expectations that will challenge the students. When those students to meet those high expectations, the teacher should praise them and let those students know they are smart and did well.
A teacher who pushes their students to achieve these high (but obtainable) expectations is preparing their students for hard work in the future, and not to give up when they are faced with a difficult challenge or situation.
2. Reward Struggle, Too
While it is important to give praise to those who can achieve those high expectations, teachers should also encourage the students who struggle, too.
In an article written by Mark Katz for Berkeley.edu, he mentions that “Carol Dweck (a leading researcher in the field of motivation) and others point to the importance of fostering a growth mindset, in which kids are praised for their efforts more than their achievements, allowing for and even encouraging mistakes.”
What this means is when a student shares their struggles, they are receiving the message that everyone will struggle and “being smart” isn’t a fixed trait that only a few people have.
3. Have a Sense of Humor
Think back to when you were in school and think about your favorite teacher(s). They probably had a great sense of humor, and they made learning fun.
For many students, thee teachers with a great sense of humor stick out in their mind because they didn’t just read from a textbook – they made learning exciting and practiced fun (and maybe unorthodox) methods of learning. When a student is engaged in learning, they will retain the information so much easier and more fully.
4. Show Students Their Value
One way that a teacher can help a student succeed is by helping them understand that they do belong and they can contribute to the classroom (and ultimately, society as adults) in a meaningful way.
When a teacher gives students the opportunity to contribute in the classroom, be it to distribute materials, take care of a classroom pet, or to create artwork for the bulletin board, the student understands that they have a purpose. This sense of belonging and importance can help them feel like they have something meaningful to give to the community as an adult.
5. Be Available for Students
Teachers who are available for their students, whether it is for extra study time for a big exam, walking them through financial aid applications or even discussing how to transfer credits from one college to another, let’s students know that they aren’t just a body that passes through the classroom. Teachers who help their students at the end of the day, end of the year, or who stay in touch years down the road, are the ones who truly have made a positive impact on their student’s lives.
This is especially true for students who have struggles later on – they can go back to that favorite teacher for help, encouragement, and be a source of reassurance of their abilities to help them accomplish whatever is before them.
6. Show Empathy
Some would say that this could fall under “being available for students,” but the truth of the matter is, growing up can be a confusing and difficult time for a child – even if they are in their teenage years.
By showing students empathy, teachers can help students work out any problems they have, even if it isn’t classroom related. If the student is having difficulties at home and they have a good report with their teacher, they’ll be able to open up and talk about the problems.
The teacher will be able to offer advice and guidance to help that student feel safe. While some teachers may not realize it, for those students who do have a difficult home life, this could mean the difference between staying on course in school or doing something they may regret later in life.
Conclusion
Deciding to become a teacher isn’t something a person just decides to do. They do it because they have a passion for it. They want to make an impact on the lives of their students and try to provide them with the skills and knowledge that will help them go far in life.
There’s no denying that being a teacher is not easy work: not only do teachers on average spend about $500 of their own money on school supplies for their students each year, but they also do about 400 hours of overtime each year. Teachers are selfless individuals who can change the course of their student’s lives just by being a wonderful teacher who cares and believes in them. With some students – that’s all they need: someone who cares and believes in them.
