Below, we will share with you the 8 habits an excellent educator should possess to make learning more fun and rewarding for their students to enhance their holistic development, especially from the spiritual perspective.
An educator enjoys teaching
This might be a no brainer, but you’d be surprised by the amount of teachers who do not find teaching a rewarding job, and only pays the bills. Not a lot of adults can withstand being around hyperactive and cheeky children, especially when there are so many of them in one classroom. An excellent educator should first and foremost have the passion to teach, no matter how tiring of an experience. They strive to see students grow, from ignorance to excellence in all perspectives.
An educator spreads positivity
A lot of educators get really tired over the years dealing with students of all ages, especially during their pubescent years where students can be behaviorally challenging. At the end of the day, the teachers get angry, become very strict and almost lose their voice over controlling a noisy classroom. This is not exactly an ideal situation teachers want to overcome, so it is best to try out new and creative ways to captivate students’ attention.
An educator remembers students
As an educator, we don’t want to treat our students like little rascals who don’t grow out of it. Instead of getting tired of them, take some interest in knowing your students and their interests so that you can find ways to connect with them. Don’t forget to also tell them about yours! Besides getting to know them at a personal level, it is also essential to know how they learn effectively by identifying their learning styles so that you can cater to each of them as an individual.
In addition, make an effort to get to know their parents as well. Speaking to the parents should not be looked at as an obligation but rather, an honour. In the beginning of the school year, make it known that they can come to you about anything at any time of the year. In addition, try to get to know your colleagues on a personal level as well. You will be much happier if you can find a strong support network in and outside of school.
An educator is well organised
The most dangerous trait any person could possess is laziness and procrastination! Considering educators have to manage a lot of classrooms, it is best to never fall behind on the marking or filing of students’ work. Try not to delay on evaluation or assessing student progress, and this will definitely keep you well organised in the long run. If it helps, teachers can also keep an organized planner and plan ahead! The likelihood of last minute lesson plans being effective are slim. Lastly, keep a journal handy and jot down your ideas as soon as an inspired idea forms in your mind. Then, make a plan to put those ideas in action.
An educator is open to criticism
Being observed by others when you teach is probably a nerve-wracking experience, and you will feel nervous to say or do something unconventional. Throughout your career, you will be evaluated and criticized by your boss, teachers, parents and even children. Instead of feeling bitter when somebody has something to say about your teaching, be open-minded when receiving constructive criticism and form a plan of action. Prove that you are the effective teacher that you want to be. Nobody is perfect and there is always room for improvement.
An educator sets some expectations
Being an educator, there are times when you want to be democratic and give students the creative freedom to do whatever they want, as long as they learn. However, this is not exactly ideal, and we need to set some standards to ensure that they know what is acceptable versus what isn’t. For example, remind the students how you would like to take down their notes. Are you the teacher who wants your students to try their best and hand in their best and neatest work? Or are you the teacher who couldn’t care less? The nitty gritty matters sometimes.
An educator works smart
Some teachers think that being an excellent teacher means doing or planning everything from scratch, especially instructional aids. This is not exactly the case all the time. If you have extra time to make it happen, it’s great but what if you don’t have the time to invest in creating everything from scratch? This is the time for teachers to find inspiration, interesting instructional aids to be used online and utilise them to the best of your ability. Always work smart.
An educator practices self-reflection
Last but not least, a great educator is one who does a lot of self-reflection on their teaching methods. They will always look to improve their teaching techniques to ensure students learn the best possible way and retain the most important information. Always have a log book with you and jot down what you’ve done which is effective, and what could be improved in the future.
Be a teacher that lights like a beacon. Be an educator that gives guidance to the developing souls. Be a facilitator to ensure that students develop holistically. May Allah bless all teachers who are continuously fighting to educate the future generation, and may we be able to produce a well-rounded Ummah. For more information on our education system, visit our website at www.itqanschools.com and follow us on Instagram and Facebook at @simply.itqan
‘A teacher affects eternity: he can never tell where his influence stops.’ –Henry Adams