Teaching is a respected profession all across the world. It requires passion, commitment, and skills to be a good teacher. School teachers have added responsibilities since they are handling young, naive children and it is a crucial age where kids grasp and observe a lot. Being a primary school teacher is hard. Today, we will be looking at the skills and qualifications required to be a teacher. There are various levels of interviews required to become a teacher.
First, let us look at some of the top skills required to be a school teacher:
Skills Required for Teaching
1. Inquisitiveness
A teacher should be a great learner. The thirst to learn will help them stay updated and upskilled. The world is constantly changing and it is important that a teacher stays informed about the same. For instance, online teaching is the new norm and teachers should be able to shift to online teaching methods. To teach online, teachers can opt for brilliant apps like Teachmint that ensure ease, efficiency, and convenience.
2. Patience
One of the most important skills required to be a primary teacher is patience. As mentioned, the teachers would be dealing with young kids between the age group of six to twelve. At this point, students can be over-enthusiastic, inquisitive, pumped with energy, and whatnot. There are a lot of things that the teacher would have to juggle. Staring from teaching the subject to solving classroom issues to attending to the kids’ needs, there are a lot of written and unwritten responsibilities involved.
3. Interpersonal Skills
“If the structure does not permit dialogue, the structure must be changed”― Paulo Freire
As a teacher, it is of paramount importance to build meaningful relations with students and their parents and create a good classroom community. Interpersonal skills and communication skills are essential for teachers. Communication is not limited to verbal communication, it also includes listening skills and picking up non-verbal cues. As teachers, it is necessary to create a space for dialogue and ensure that students get a platform to raise their concerns and clear their queries.
4. Leadership
As a teacher, there might be countless situations where you will have to take the lead, and having strong leadership skills will help teachers to take control of the classroom. They must have a strong say and control over their class. Good leadership skills are necessary to ensure that the class functions smoothly and efficiently. This is needed to mold the behavior of students and to shape them for the future.
5. Adaptability
Change is the only thing that is constant in this fast-paced world. As mentioned, there are new developments in the education system and classrooms have changed drastically over the years. Virtual classrooms and live classes are the new normal. Teachers have to be adaptable and should not be resistant to change. They have to adapt to the new methods and systems and involve these changes in the classroom. They have to be proactive and anticipate things one step ahead. A good teacher must be ready to adapt to the circumstances and blend in.
6. Teamwork
Teachers have to work in a team to ensure the best possible outcomes from their teaching. A teacher must be able to work alone as well as in a team. While teaching, students must feel a sense of belonging and that they are a part of the team. Only then teaching will be efficient. Teachers will also have to work in harmony with other teachers and the management to ensure that the strategies are working and that the institution functions smoothly. A teacher should also inculcate this skill in the students.
Conclusion
Teaching is not a cakewalk. It has its own challenges. There are a lot of things involved in teaching such as classroom management, communication, community building, conflict resolution, and likewise. Teachers have to equip themselves and be resourceful. They play a huge role in shaping behaviors and inculcating values. More often than not, it is seen as a trivial job where in reality, it is a job that requires ardent dedication and passion.
