Everyone who becomes a teacher wants to be an inspirational one. It takes more than just knowing the curriculum, though. You can be the smartest person in the world and still not easily engage a whole class. Here are seven characteristics of an inspirational teacher.
1: A Thirst for Knowledge
If you expect your students to have a thirst for knowledge, you must have it yourself. The best teachers are lifelong learners – those who aren’t afraid to admit they don’t know something, and those who are just as eager to learn from their students. It doesn’t hurt to advance your studies academically, either. Pursue an MSED online, and you will learn to become a more engaging, empathetic, and inspirational teacher to young students.
2: A Great Communicator
It makes sense that, to be an inspirational teacher, you need excellent communication skills. Without them, how will you motivate students or relay information? There are always ways to improve your communication skills, such as attending a public speaking class or learning how to boost your confidence.
3: Organization Skills
When you picture an inspirational teacher, you might envision someone with a free-spirited aura. Someone who doesn’t always follow a rigid schedule, but still manages to get the students to learn and engage. In truth, though, an inspirational teacher needs a good dose of organizational skills. Otherwise, the class may descend into chaos with no learning to be had.
4: Open-mindedness
Another trait of an inspirational teacher is open-mindedness. Students come from all sorts of backgrounds – some may come from a dysfunctional household, some might be a minority, and some might have learning difficulties. It’s up to the teacher to engage with everyone equally and fairly and, where appropriate, provide extra help when needed.
5: Genuine Compassion
Compassion is a vital part of being an inspirational teacher. You can’t teach well without having care for your students, after all. While it’s ideal for students to always show up on time, happy and motivated, that won’t always happen. It takes a compassionate teacher to help during the rougher times rather than make it worse.
6: A Sense of Humor
If you think back to your old favorite teachers, the chances are the ones who struck a chord with you were the ones who had a sense of humor. The ones who could laugh with you in between important lessons, who could get you to see the brighter side. Work on having a better sense of humor, and it will help you become a more inspirational figure to students.
7: A True Passion for Teaching
The most inspirational teachers want to be there. They are excited about standing in front of students, providing knowledge, and motivating others to do better. It brings them genuine happiness. To be a truly inspirational teacher, you should also have unwavering passion. That doesn’t mean never having a rough day. It means that, no matter what, your main purpose is to provide an exceptional educational experience to your students.