Different Types of Learning Skills to be Fostered by a Teacher
Teaching is an essential part of education. Its special function is to impart knowledge, develop understanding and skills. The teacher plays a vital role in imparting knowledge to the learners
This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Kimbu H. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
What is Teaching Skill?
Teaching skills are defined as a group of teaching acts or behaviors intended to facilitate students learning directly or indirectly. Similarly, they are instructional techniques and procedures used by the teacher in classrooms
Teaching Skills all Educators Should Foster
There are several teaching skills that all teachers should develop and foster. While some teaching skills may vary from teacher to teacher, there are still a few personal skills that are important for all teachers to possess. In addition to being knowledgeable in your area of expertise and having the ability to plan and execute lesson plans, successful teachers also need to possess a few extra personal skills. These will not only help the teacher to be an effective teacher but a successful one as well. Several personal teaching skills need to be fostered by the teacher. These skills include the following among others
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Patience
One of the most important skills a teacher can have is patience. Without patience, the teacher is going to have a really hard time being an effective teacher. Learners tend to like to test their teachers’ patience, so if the teachers tend to lose his/her patience easily, and get angry quickly, then being a teacher or an educator is probably not a job for them. Patience is a quality that will help the teacher to be successful in the classroom. If this is something that needs to be worked upon the teacher needs to try a few mindfulness techniques. When the teacher feels like their blood is about to boil, they will need a moment to step back and take a few minutes to take a deep breath.
Creativity
Successful teachers are creative in many ways. They can think outside the box, use the resources they have to create amazing lessons and activities and come up with effective ways to handle discipline in the classroom. While some people may feel that creativity is something that you are born with, others say that if you just take the time to think and use your imagination, you too can tap into your creative side.
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Communication and Collaboration
Having the skill set to be able to communicate and collaborate with others is an extremely important personal skill to have as an educator. Whether communicating with students, parents or colleagues, teachers need this skill to be successful at their job. Teachers need the ability to communicate important information as well as understand different perspectives. In addition to that, teachers also need to have the ability to collaborate with their coworkers. Teachers often work together as a team to better provide students with a high-quality education.
Likable Personality
This is another personal skill that teachers should foster. Even if you may be an introvert, you can still cultivate a likable personality in the classroom. This doesn’t mean that you have to be a comedian and make your students laugh every chance that you get; it only means that a teacher who can engage their students and has a relationship with them will only make the class more interesting and fun to be in.
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Self-Discipline
For the teacher to discipline their students, the teacher needs to have self-discipline. Having self-discipline means that the teacher has the willpower and the control not to be affected when the students are misbehaving. This skill lets the students not to be able to walk over you. This is an exceptional personal trait to be possessed by the teacher to be successful in the classroom.
These are just the essential personal skills teachers should possess. Other teaching skills like being able to adapt, having self-awareness and very importantly, having a great love for the job are also on the top of the list of teaching skills all teachers should foster and it can never be too late to cultivate these skills in case a teacher finds out they do not possess them
Possessing these skills is important because:
- Builds self-confidence in the students
- It ensures competency in teaching
- Makes the class interesting
- Avoid confusion
- Helps the teacher to understand individual differences in learning
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In conclusion, teaching skills are very important to be possessed by the teachers.
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