question 2
Question 2:
What do you believe are the five most important attributes of an effective teacher? Explain how experiences in your life demonstrate your strengths (or your potential) in EACH of these attributes. (600 words) - (Note: Although there are many attributes that successful teachers possess, you are being asked to focus on the 5 that you identify as being key to your future success and which reflect your own personal strengths and talents. Attributes could include characteristics such as patience, creativity, flexibility, communication etc.)
I've got lots of options and notes written, but have chosen 3 [edit: adding a 4th] concretely so far:
Adaptability: I became a young single mother at 19. When my kids were 14 months and 2.5 years, I started a 4-year degree that I finished in 5. During a battle with major depression, a failed relationship, and loss of daycare for my own children, I missed a previous opportunity to start my B. Ed in 2004. I’ve learned that life rarely follows “the script”; no matter how much or how well you plan, things may not go as expected. It’s important to remember that a bend in the road isn’t the end of the road, unless you fail to make the turn. Rather than being discouraged, a teacher must remember to go with the flow, see the big picture, and take advantage of “teachable moments.”
Limit setting: A teacher must be able to establish limits within the classroom. As a parent and home daycare provider, discipline is an issue with which I am very familiar. I have done much research on the subject and feel that I have a good grasp of what is effective and what isn’t. A teacher must also be able to establish limits within her own life. She must find a balance within her own schedule, comfort level, and previous commitments; she should be able to say “no” when necessary. As someone who has overextended herself in the past and felt the aftermath of that, I have learned to respect my own limits and I am confident that I will be able to avoid the new teacher pitfall of taking on too much.
Commitment to lifelong learning: Teachers, new and experienced alike, need to remember that they don’t “know it all.” Theories and methodologies change. There are always new ideas and strategies to discover. While I was on hiatus from formal education as a stay-at-home parent of young children, I used the opportunity to take a variety of parenting courses and seminars that taught me valuable lessons, many of which commute well to teaching scenarios. As an undergraduate university student, I attended a “Teacher Toolbox Day” aimed at current and future music educators. I have always had a desire to learn about a variety of different topics. A well-rounded individual will have a wealth of knowledge and experiences on which to draw examples when teaching.
Team player: A good teacher is not only a good educator, but also a good faculty member, respecting and working well with both her coworkers and the principal under whom she works. Having been an executive on the Music Students Association for 4 years, I have been in a similar position. I was able to lead and inform the students of the Department, while connecting with my fellow association executives and also gaining and maintaining the respect of the professors and the Director of the Department.