- Lifelong learning is essential to being a teacher.
One of the biggest characteristics that the village project has made evident is that teachers have to be lifelong learners. A teacher will not be effective if they remain stuck in one spot or one belief. As the methods of education are continuously changing, and technology becomes more important to teaching, we must be able to accept and adapt to this in order to learn how and when to use these tools. Furthermore, being able to show that you are learning with the kids and not just telling them what to do can make you more approachable.
- Body language and tone make a difference.
Body language and tone play vital roles in how a student sees you as a teacher. As a teacher, you are setting an example for the students whenever you are around them, even if you think they are watching you. As a volunteer specifically at the village project. It is important that I show good body language when the staff member is explaining an activity to the students because in that case I am showing them that they should be looking at the staff member and listening. If instead I roll my eyes, slouch, and look away I am showing them that the staff member is boring and not someone they should be listening to. Furthermore, especially with younger children, tone is super important. Kids don’t understand what sarcasm is and can pick up small changes in your voice so it is important to sound excited and be straightforward with them.
- Kids learn from examples.
Playing into why it is important to show good body language is because kids learn best from example. They are constantly taking in information and stimuli from the world around them and oftentimes turn towards their peers, parents, siblings, or teachers and examples for how they should be acting. This is why positive reinforcement works in many cases because you point out someone who is setting a good example as well as giving the kids an incentive as to why they should follow that example.
- Students learn differently.
Another important part of teaching is to understand that each student learns best in different ways. It is important to recognize what teaching methods work best for the class as a whole and the different ways that you can help students individually. It is crucial to be able to accommodate different students and different classes. The best ways to teach may vary depending on the types of students in the class so it is important to get to know your students and how they each learn.
- Teachers must be able to improvise.
Throughout the semester we have talked a lot about how teachers need to be able to adapt. Along with adapting, teachers must have the ability to improvise and think on their feet. It is impossible to predict and prepare for all the different situations that could occur during the day in a classroom. Therefore, sometimes teachers have to react to what is happening and quickly come up with ways to adapt to the situation.
- Learn to adjust your expectations.
Teachers must also be able to adjust their expectations to fit classes. This doesn’t mean that teachers should lower expectations and not challenge their students; however, sometimes expectations are different from reality and need to be revised to fit the situation. The village project has been an eye opening experience but it has also been very different then what I expected when I went into it. Adjusting expectations isn’t something that is just negative; it simply means that your experience is different than how you imagined it to be.
- Learn how to use the materials you are given.
Another important tool is learning how to use the material you are given. Depending on what school or district you end up teaching in, the materials and curriculum will vary. Sometimes you will have to adjust the curriculum and find alternative ways to teach it that will engage or better help the students learn. However, you can only do so much with what you are given so it is essential to make the most out of what you have instead of getting caught up with what you want.
- You need to be an active listener.
Children don’t always come to you for advice or for you to solve a problem. Sometimes students simply need someone who will listen to what is going on in their lives without trying to fix the problem or tell them how to think about the situation. Furthermore, it is important to be aware of what students are saying even if it isn’t directed at you or through writing. Students will sometimes try to disguise their cries for help through drawings, poems, or writing assignments so it is important for teachers to be able to pick up on this and actively listen to their students.
- It is necessary to set boundaries.
Teaching can be a very draining career, especially for those who continue to give everything to their students all the time. Boundaries are an essential part of teaching because you can’t give yourself up entirely to the job, no matter how passionate you are about it. Boundaries can help create balance between personal and professional life so you aren’t continually giving all your time and energy to the job because that will often lead to burnout. Classroom boundaries are important so your students know both their limits and your limits as well as what it means to overstep these boundaries.
- Allow students to learn from each other.
In some situations, students may learn better by helping each other and finding solutions together rather than separately. The process of learning is just as important, if not more important, than what they learned. Classrooms need to be areas of trust and collaboration. Especially in diverse classrooms, students can learn about different perspectives and backgrounds from each other much better than they would from just you. Allowing time for students to discuss, collaborate, share ideas, or simply carry conversations with each other is beneficial to the environment of the classroom.
