10 Important Skills of a Teacher and How to Develop Them

Teaching
is a noble profession that allows you to shape the future through consistent
engagement with bright, young minds. A teacher's job is very demanding, and
they have to use a wide range of skills to perform their job well. Knowing what
skills and qualities make a good teacher can help you prepare for this career.
In this article, we will discuss the 10 most important skills of a teacher and
provide you with some tips and tricks to develop them on your own.

What are the skills needed to be a teacher?

Teachers
require a variety of skill sets for creating lesson plans, instructing
students, working with administrators and interacting with parents. While some
of these skills and qualities like patience and leadership are inherent to
individuals, you can develop most of them through practice and training.
Teachers use their skills to create a conducive learning environment that
facilitates the development of their students. While formal training and
education prepare a teacher for their job role, on-the-job training is crucial
for their personal development.

Teachers
may also perform a range of administrative tasks as part of their job. They
often have to facilitate smooth communication between the school and its
students, the school and parents and sometimes, even between students and
parents. To perform these tasks in an academic environment, you will need a
combination of hard and soft skills.

10 best skills of a teacher

These
are the 10 most important skills you should develop for a successful career in
teaching:

1. Critical thinking skills

With
strong critical thinking skills, teachers are able to consider the best
interests of their students while also working within the institution's goals
and standards. Teachers of primary and secondary schools must also remain aware
of parents' expectations for learning and discipline and ensure that the
classroom has a safe and nurturing environment.

How to develop: You can develop critical
thinking by practising self-awareness at all times. Acknowledge your biases,
preferences, strengths and weaknesses to understand your own thought process
better. Try to evaluate situations objectively before making decisions or
taking actions.

2. Patience

Teachers
of all levels should know their classrooms will represent a variety of cultural
backgrounds, learning styles and intellectual abilities. Dedicated students
will likely contribute more to class discussion and be more easygoing, but many
students present other challenges like conflicts and disruptions. Teachers
should be able to keep their cool in such situations while maintaining a
balance between their own expectations and the students' unique personalities.

How to develop: Patience is a character
trait that is inherently found in individuals. However, you can develop
patience by identifying possibilities for impulsive behaviour and monitoring
them consciously.

3. Communication skills

Teachers
should ideally be good at physical, verbal and written communication. Strong
verbal communication means that teachers make their lesson materials and
expectations clear while presenting concepts in a way that students can
understand. When teachers stand tall in the classroom, smile often and make eye
contact with their students, they seem confident and kind, which will likely
lead to more student engagement in the course.

How to develop: You can improve your
communication skills by reading and writing regularly. You can also improve the
effectiveness of your physical communication by being mindful of your posture
and mannerisms.

4. Organisational skills

To
be effective, teachers must be able to manage their study materials and
students' assignments well. A well-organised classroom should have all the
necessary tools like books and technology in places where they do not distract
students.

How to develop: Practise organisation
while you prepare for a lesson. Create a structure for storing and using your
study materials effectively. It is good practice to maintain binders and
folders for different students where you can store all their study materials,
assignments and progress reports. Prepare a calendar and plan out how you will
fit your to-do list items into each day.

5. Creative thinking abilities

Teachers
of younger students might learn to incorporate performances (like singing,
drawing or mimicry) into their classroom to stimulate learning. Secondary or
higher-secondary educators teaching older students may use media like films,
music and the Internet to illustrate ideas and concepts in detail.

How to develop: Practise an artistic hobby
regularly, regardless of your expertise. Consider using brainstorming
activities in the classroom, and appreciate unconventional and innovative
ideas. Consume creative content for inspiration and share appropriate takeaways
with your students.

6. Leadership skills

Teachers
need to practise leadership skills inside and outside the classroom. To show
strong leadership skills, you may accept additional duties like coaching a
sports team or directing a student club, like chess, quizzing or drama.
Teachers with strong leadership abilities may be more likely to advance to
senior positions like principal.

How to develop: To showcase your
leadership abilities, you can volunteer to take on responsibilities that lie
outside your day-to-day work. You can evolve your skills and competence by
occasionally stepping out of your comfort zone.

7. Capacity for teamwork

Similar
to leadership, teamwork helps teachers interact kindly and effectively with
other school personnel. Teachers frequently have meetings to come up with the
best curriculum and classroom practices for students. In these meetings,
teachers with strong teamwork abilities can accept input from others, even if
they have differing opinions.

How to develop: For successful teamwork in
the workplace, it is essential for all involved parties to share a common goal
and channel their collective efforts towards it. It helps to be open-minded, to
be able to handle differences in a mature way. You should be well aware of
hierarchies and the nature of the work to function effectively within a team.

8. Time management skills

Teaching
is a job that extends outside the classroom. Teachers need evenings and
weekends to plan lessons, grade papers and occasionally shop for classroom
materials. To maintain a healthy work-life balance, you will need to develop
good time management skills. Some strategies may include setting aside certain
hours of the day for relaxation, exercise or other personal activities.

How to develop: Create a schedule for your
tasks and adhere to it strictly. With time, optimise your work processes to
find more free time for yourself, after your work. Prioritise tasks and set
deadlines. More importantly, break down complex tasks into smaller segments and
handle individual segments at a time.

9. Computer skills

As
classrooms continue to incorporate technology, computer skills are becoming
more important for teachers to have. Besides tracking grades, educators may use
computers to formulate lesson plans, worksheets, study guides, tests and other
deliverables. Teachers also use digital media in the classroom, including
online videos and interactive exercises to make their material more engaging.

How to develop: You should try to stay
updated on technological advancements in your field. Try out new learning tools
and apps that facilitate learning. Share your knowledge with your students and
be open to learning about technology from them.

10. Conflict resolution skills

Part
of a teacher's responsibilities includes being able to manage disagreements and
conflicts in a classroom. Teachers of younger children might encounter
conflicts over sharing resources like books, games or toys. A teacher with
well-developed conflict resolution abilities will display patience and active
listening to consider each viewpoint and come to a compromise.

How to develop: Approach every conflict as
an opportunity to take away some positive learnings. Ensure that discussions do
not escalate into arguments. Teach students to cultivate mutual respect for
their peers, even in times of conflict.

Qualities of a good teacher

Good
teachers often have the following qualities and characteristics:

They are good at setting goals: Teachers
have to set goals for themselves and their students. They also have to ensure
that these goals are met within a particular time frame. As a teacher, you
should set realistic goals and evaluate the performance of individual students
to suggest improvements.

There is clarity in their communication: You
have to break down complex concepts and explain them to students in a way that
they can understand. This requires you to be articulate and to have a good
command of the language.

They act as role models: A good teacher
should be able to set examples for their students to follow. Your students
should see you as a source of inspiration.

They are adaptable: Teachers often deal
with students and parents who have distinct character traits and personalities.
They must be able to adapt to these diversities effectively, to be able to
perform well. You must also be well-prepared to handle changes in work settings.

They prepare: Teaching takes a lot of
preparation. Teachers create lesson plans, assignments and tests well in
advance to maintain smoothness in operation. Teachers also have to help their
students prepare for situations like exams and extracurricular events.

They practise self-reflection: Good
teachers can monitor their own performance, identify weaknesses in their
teaching style and make consistent efforts to improve it.

They promote curiosity and a love for learning: As
a teacher, you should try to make learning fun for your students. Your students
should not perceive academic tasks and assignments as hurdles. Instead, they
should approach them with curiosity and see them as opportunities to learn.

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