Over the years that I have been teaching, I have come to learn many of the values that underpin being a teacher. I have learnt the basic philosophy that a teacher has not taught until the students have learnt.
As a teacher, I need to observe my students and identify their learning needs. Likewise, I need to reflect on my teaching process as well. I need to enable a learning environment in which the students feel comfortable and I must also vary my teaching style to accommodate students with different learning styles. Thus, a teacher has to keep adapting to the needs of his/her classroom situation.
My approach should ensure ‘active learning’, which would help my students to develop independently and take responsibility for their own personal progress. I need to do less, so that they (students) can do more.
I firmly believe that a teacher is a lifelong learner, and the more he/she learns, the better his/her teaching practices become.
It is not advisable to associate only with people who agree to our thoughts and views. We should be open to different perspectives; we should share our ideas, discuss, debate and thus refine our understanding of things. For a teacher, it is important to engage thus and stay updated.
It is important to collaborate with other teachers and see how working together can strengthen us all.
For a teacher, every single day can bring up a new challenge. He/she has to think, adapt and keep growing as a teacher.