Wings Educational Resources Blog

Influence of a Teacher

Posted admin on June 4th, 2008 | Filed under Role of a Teacher, Setting an Example, Teacher Influence, wingsed.com

It is not just about the “teaching” of students.  In my opinion, there are a lot of great teachers out there, but there are a lot who are there just to “put in time”.  You can not even imagine how much a teacher’s actions and words can influence the direction of a student’s life.   That is a HUGE responsibility that YOU CHOSE to take on when becoming an educator.  Don’t take it lightly!!!

Not only are you “molding” their brains, you may actually play an important role in determining the direction of their lives.  As far as I am concerned, this relates to teachers, principals, homeschoolers and parents alike.

A few questions…

1.   Is covering the curriculum outlined in your lesson plans encouraging student interests and investigation into the world around them or is it just, “Read this….”  and “Do these workbook pages…”?   It is all fine and good to use textbooks and workbooks in their time and place, but what about the practical application of education in REAL LIFE?

2.  Is your attitude one of energy, positivity and encouragement when you enter or begin the class?  How can the students be excited about education and learning when you are relating material in a monotone or a “Let’s just get through this…” kind of manner?   Don’t you think your attitude sets the tone for the learning environment and teaches students how to approach tasks on hand, whether at home, school or eventually in the workplace? 

3.   Children notice everything!  Do you consider how you influence the other students in the classroom by the way you relate to one student or a group of students?

A while ago, I received a high school graduation invitation from a student whom I had taught in grade 8.  Each student got up and shared about the people who had influenced them the most.  I was in utter shock when she said my name.  I had her in my classroom for only one year.  Little did I know that I had influenced her. 

When she was in my classroom, it was a multi-grade setting and she was among the older students.  There were a few of the younger students which I shall only describe as “rascals”.  I often use a sense of humor while teaching or correcting student behavior in such a way as to get my point across without raising my voice or lecturing.  Students get and got the point. 

Apparently, while I was dealing with the rambunctious ones, she would often lift her textbook slightly and try to hide her grin.  Four years later, this was what she remembered.  I had no idea that I was having any sort of impact on her while dealing with the behavior of other students. 

While I was sitting in the graduation ceremony, still in shock, she announced that because of her experience in my classroom, she had decided to become a teacher.  Wow!  I have to say, after that, I was much more conscious of my dealings with other students in the classroom.  You never know!

4.  Do you ensure that your attention is given fairly and equally to all the children?  This is a very difficult balancing act at times as the more outgoing students tend to receive more of your focus.  What about the quiet students?  Do you encourage them to speak up?  It is too easy to let them slip through the “cracks” in the education system.

I had a teacher in elementary school who used to tell me how stupid I was, when I asked a question.  He would frequently respond in this manner when I asked for additional clarification of help on a new concept.  As a result, I became very introverted and insecure for many years, afraid to speak up about anything to anybody.  But, on the positive side, I also became very determined to figure things out for myself.  

One day when I asked this same teacher about an occupation, he scoffingly laughed and told me not to worry about it because I would never graduate from elementary school, let alone high school.  Some students would have just said, “Why bother to try…” and “I’ll never be able to do it anyway…”.  Fortunately for me, I come from very stubborn “stock”.  Right then and there I determined to prove him wrong.  Happily, I can say that it was a success.  I not only went farther than he did in college, I earned more degrees and was able to find work with no problem.  Years later, his influence is still with me at times, but I remind myself NOT to be that kind of teacher.

Every student deserves to be encouraged in their educational and personal growth.  They should be built up, not torn down.  No child deserves negative reactions for giving their best efforts and being wrong.  We all learn from experience and mistakes, or at least we should!