The teacher that truly inspires!

Today is World Teachers’ day!

A good teacher is one who awakens the spirit through inspiration, motivation, guidance, love, care, encouragement and support to face challenges with confidence. Today, we celebrate the amazing work our teachers do but beyond the information, assignments, examination and maybe cane, teaching is really about inspiration. The goal should be to spark each student’s imagination, to find a hook in their heart and mind so that they feel a need to learn what exactly you are teaching.

Here are 5 key points as to what makes a good and inspirational teacher;

Have Empathy- This is probably the greatest quality a teacher can have. Creating empathy is about bonding with your students. Cry with them, laugh with them. Get to know their emotions and understand their feelings. Young people are easily stressed and sometimes under great pressure, at this time, all you need is to be compassionate. Search for the real person underneath and when you find them, they will open up to you.

Develop a Positive Mental Attitude- Teachers are human like anyone else, however, the stress of working with young people especially those with attitudinal and behavioural problems can sometimes be immense. This is the time you need to be strong. To keep a smile on your face when things get tough. To see the bright side of things. To seek to find the positive in every negative situation. You have the choice to bring a light into your classroom or cast a shadow.

‘Grow’ your Verbal Skills- Every great teacher is a great orator. If you can keep your students focused and interested just by talking to them then you are doing a great job. When was the last time you spoke about something and you could hear a pin drop? ‘Just talking to them’ means using passion, emotion, great eye contact, animated body language, voice modulation and feeling. Talk with conviction. Believe in what you say. Take your students on a wonderful journey every day.

Show Respect- Respect every human being that is in your classroom. Talk to them like you would talk to your closest friends. No one is more important in this world than anyone else. A great inspirational teacher is a human being who respects everyone no matter their attitude, colour, religion, tribe or nationality. Every one of your students has a place on this earth. You can help them make a positive impact on it too as you have the power to change their lives.

Remember that your students are Individuals- Know your students inside and out. Do not pick on reward or punishment for all students, because they are all different individuals. Talk to your students and be involved in their lives. Use different teaching styles and strategies within the classroom, because everyone learns differently. Have options for big projects or presentations within your class. Most importantly, let your students be creative, do not limit them.

The day a teacher realizes that they have been given a great gift – the power to change lives, is the day an inspirational teacher is born. It is up to teachers to light the fuse and see what happens.

Which teacher has inspired you the most? Let’s have a conversation in the comment section.