Key Qualities of Effective and Inspirational Teachers
For example, placement has shown me that managing the class effectively promotes better learning, as opposed to individually disciplining children to do their assigned work. Encouraging them to continue is more effective at producing a better learning environment.
The Role of Passion in Teaching
Passion also dictates how able a teacher is to inspire their students. Passion dictates commitment, ideology, and motivation in a teaching career (Day, 2007). Studies show that teachers found to be inspirational and excellent all had a passionate desire for the success of their students (Hopkins & Stern, 1996).
Hopefulness, Resilience, and Teacher Effectiveness
Hopefulness and resilience, persistence in challenging circumstances require a teacher to invest both personally and professionally. However, when this occurs, teachers become higher-performing, more competent, and effective in teaching and promoting learning (Day, 2007).
Subject Knowledge: A Cornerstone of Inspiration
However, despite personal and professional investment, subject knowledge is also an attributing factor to being an effective yet inspirational teacher. An inspirational teacher has a great depth of care for the knowledge and learning of students, and as such, will have an in-depth and competent knowledge of subjects being taught, as well as enthusiasm for those particular subjects (O’Connor, 2008).
Actions to Avoid: Criticism and Humiliation
Just as an inspirational teacher can contribute to the success and development of students, I consider that the actions a teacher avoids are also critical to being an inspirational teacher. For example, my classroom makes special efforts at all costs to avoid criticism and humiliation. Because of this, I believe that students are not afraid to contribute, fail, or re-attempt. Praise is an important action an inspiring teacher must make, but conversely, criticism and humiliation are attributes that an inspiring teacher must avoid at all costs, at the risk of breeding cynicism.
Commitment and Endurance in Teaching
With mounting variables such as parent demand, policies of education, or personal factors, the commitment of a teacher must be unwavering. Inspiration must lie in endurance, and therefore, an attribute of an inspirational teacher is endurance towards variables that may deteriorate or otherwise warp attitudes towards teaching and the success of students (Day, 2000).
The Importance of Praise and Enjoyment in Learning
Finally, I believe that praise and joint enjoyment of the activity of learning as a whole are vitally important. The word “fun” connotes leisure devoid of purpose. However, I thoroughly consider that these attributes promote a lifelong positive attitude towards learning. Fun and enjoyment can be an attributing characteristic of learning instead of its defining one. Classes and teachers devoid of this demonstrate a learning environment absent of engaging students or enthusiasm (Goodlad, 1984).
Enduring Qualities of Inspirational Teachers
The qualities of an inspiring teacher range from empathy to being knowledgeable and having passion. However, I believe the true distinctive feature of an inspirational teacher is the endurance and resilience of these traits when challenged. Timeless perseverance of these traits ensures that all students under the tuition of an inspirational teacher develop a lifetime love of learning.