Roles Of A Teacher

Teaching is a dynamic profession which constantly evolves and changes from group to group and individual to individual. In light of this a successful teacher will have to consider what roles they have both within and outside of the classroom.

Getting the basics right should be a formality. Teachers can easily give off a good impression through good timekeeping, by dressing well and through positive body language.

Being a good motivator can help engage learners and drive them forward in the learning process. Mood can be contagious and therefore negative body language could rub off and lead to disengaged learners. Teachers need to find ways to keep their lessons enjoyable, structured and fast flowing.

Whether you like it or not being a role model is part and parcel of teaching. Working with 16-19 year olds can be challenging and they are only beginning their journey in further education. One role of a successful college teacher could be to teach punctuality, respect to other learners and discipline with assignments and examinations.

Planning plays a significant role within the classroom. The old saying goes that “if you fail to prepare then prepare to fail” which cannot be more true from a teaching perspective. This can easily be avoided through the use of lesson plans and extra work in the evenings prior to the next days classes / lessons.

Assessments have a pivotal role within the learning process.. This stems right back to the beginning through initial assessments like application forms, which can determine if a candidate is suitable for the class. This can then progress into the classroom through visual observations, worksheets and recaps observations. The whole process then finishes with examinations that can determine if someone has successfully learnt the given material and is ready to progress to the next level.

Finally being an evaluator is an important role within the classroom. Teachers need to understand from their own learners what was good and what was not during the course. This could be achieved through evaluation forms or individual discussions with learners. The teacher may go away and ask themselves what they thought went well and what didn't. They may need to feed off their peers or can look into the results of an Independent observation (IQA).