THE HEART OF TEACHING

What

does it mean to be a great teacher? Of course credentials, knowledge, critical thinking, and all other faculties of intelligence are important. However, a great teacher should be much more than credentials, experience and intelligence. A great teacher shows kindness to students, colleagues, parents and those around her/him. Teaching is a very humanistic profession, and compassion is the utmost feeling of understanding, and showing others you are connected about them. Being able to put yourself in someone’s shoes and see things from their perspective can have such a powerful impact on our decisions and actions. Being a positive teacher is even harder when we’re always met with problems with very limited solutions. A great teacher bridges gaps and builds relationships, friendships, and a community. Teachers always look to make things better and improve things in and outside of the classroom. Building a community is something a great teacher seeks to do in the classroom and extends that to the entire school and its community. Everyone looks at a great teacher and they want to be a better teacher, they want to be a better student, even better, they want to be a better person. A great teacher uncovers hidden treasures, possibilities and magic right before everyone’s eyes.