There are particularly some 6 professional skills of a teacher which are necessary for the achievement of a very effective learning process. Teachers are indispensable condiment for the academic success of students. Teaching is a rewarding career that requires a combination of both hard and soft skills.
During a normal day, teachers accomplish a variety of tasks, including creating lesson plans, providing classroom instruction and interacting with students, principals, parents and administrators.
Teacher skills are those necessary for creating lesson plans, instructing students, working with administrators and interacting with parents. Some of these skills may be innate to the teacher’s personality, but teachers may learn some as a result of formal education or on-the-job experience.
With these skills, teachers learn to work with children to develop their knowledge and critical thinking. Listing your best skills on your resume can set you apart from other candidates and potentially earn you a teaching position.
6 Professional Skills of a Teacher
Teachers communicate in a variety of ways, including verbal and written. Strong verbal communication means that teachers make their lesson material and expectations clear. They will present concepts in a way that students can understand.
Teachers exhibit written communication skills when they give feedback on assignments and write progress reports for parents. Below are the 6 professional skills of a teacher:
1. Critical AND Imaginative Thinking
With strong critical thinking skills, teachers are able to consider the best interests of the students while also working within their institution’s goals and standards. Teachers of primary and secondary schools must also remain aware of parents’ expectations for learning and discipline and ensure that the classroom is a safe and nurturing environment.
Teachers use their imagination in a variety of ways. Teachers of younger students might learn to incorporate singing or creative arts into their classrooms to stimulate learning.
Secondary or post-secondary educators may use more current media, such as film or television, to illustrate recent forms of similar themes. Teaching requires a certain amount of imagination to create lesson plans that will educate and inspire students.
For instance, a middle-school English teacher with well-developed critical thinking skills would consider the themes of a story before deciding if it’s appropriate for their class. When teaching post-secondary education in colleges or universities, instructors must consider the best ways to keep students engaged with the course material. A college English teacher might enjoy Victorian-era novels, but students may appreciate something more contemporary.
2. Leadership
Teachers need leadership skills inside and outside of the classroom. Modeling behavior for students can be key to developing a dedication to learning and general responsibility in life. Leadership is also important when interacting with teachers and school administrators.
To show strong leadership skills, teachers may accept additional duties like coaching a sports team or directing a special interest club, like chess or drama. Teachers with heightened leadership abilities may be more likely to advance to senior positions like principal or superintendent.
3. Patience
Teachers of all levels should know their classrooms will represent a variety of cultural backgrounds, learning styles and intellectual abilities. Dedicated students will likely contribute more to class discussion and be more easygoing, but many students might present other challenges like turning in work late or causing behavioral disruptions.
Teachers should be patient and help maintain a balance between their own expectations and each student’s unique abilities. For instance, if a student struggles with learning multiplication tables, a patient teacher might work with the student after class or extend the due date for homework.
4. Conflict Resolution
Part of a teacher’s responsibilities includes being able to manage disagreements in a classroom. Teachers of younger children might encounter conflicts over sharing resources like books, games or toys. In post-secondary classrooms, students may have conflicts over more personal matters like relationships.
A teacher with well-developed conflict resolution abilities will display patience and active listening to consider each viewpoint and come to a compromise. This skill will likely also be useful if disagreements arise between the teacher and the student’s parents or guardians.
Read Also: How to Develop Teaching Skills for Teaching Effectiveness
5. Time Management
Teaching is a job that often requires working from home. Teachers need evenings and weekends to plan lessons, grade papers and occasionally shop for classroom materials. To maintain a healthy work-life balance, teachers will need to utilize time management skills.
Some strategies may include setting aside certain hours of the day for relaxation, exercise or other personal activities.
It will likely also benefit teachers to set a timeframe for having papers, tests and other assignments graded and returned to students. Teachers, for instance, may set a personal goal of returning grades within one week of receiving the submission.
When working on grades, it may benefit teachers to set a time and work for specified lengths of time to avoid distractions.
6. Computer Skills
As classrooms continue to incorporate technology, computer skills are becoming more important for teachers to have. Besides tracking grades, educators may use computers to formulate lesson plans, worksheets, study guides, tests and other deliverables.
Teachers also use digital media in the classroom, including online videos and interactive exercises to make their material more engaging. For teachers of older students, computers may be necessary to help direct research in online libraries and databases.
Educators also frequently communicate with parents and school personnel digitally, so they must be comfortable sending and receiving emails.
