TAKE THAT STEP: INSIGHTS ON PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS

As we take our noble role inside the classroom on a day-to-day basis, we face people with varied characters, dispositions and intellect. We somewhat deal with them with the most pleasing personality we could flaunt. In such manner, we always tend to show professionalism in any situation we may face inside the school. Teachers, being a vital part of the educative process, must always consider displaying positive traits when dealing with students and classroom issues despite the pressure and stress brought by varied reasons.

Teachers must embody great traits that students can emulate and look up to. In here, teachers’ personality is challenged due to the fact that we know how to handle professionally issues and concerns in the school without being so negative or rude in a way. This entails maintaining the balance between efficiency and effectiveness in teaching and proper handling our problems in the class. All these boils down to personality and professional development of teachers.

Professional growth is all about gaining new skills and experience. It means your development is either related to your current role or the role you want to do next. While, personal development fits alongside professional growth — so if you want to progress in your career, you’ll need to develop personally first. That’s the only way you’ll be able to handle your fears, take on more responsibility, and succeed with greater challenges.

The effectiveness of managing a classroom greatly depends on the personality and professionalism of the teacher which determines the teacher’s level of organization, personality and unique adjustment to classroom processes. Teachers may have the same strategies but they differ in their personal and professional characteristics which makes their approach to classroom management also different. This sets one teacher from the rest.

Effective professional development involves ensuring your knowledge and understanding of your area of expertise for your career is always at the highest possible level. It is the acquisition of skills and knowledge for career advancement, like taking graduate studies, attending various seminars and even conducting research undertakings. On the other effective personal development entails think about the skills you need to accomplish the results required for the teaching-learning process. It is about improving your talents and potential, both in and out of the classroom.

It is always essential to consider that an effective and efficient teacher should take the steps on attaining the desires to develop, grow and mature personally and professionally in his or her chosen noble career.

--oOo— The author is Teacher III at Sta. Rita Elementary School, Lubao East District