I know some really amazing teachers! Teacher appreciation should be held way more often than just one week out of the year! It’s truly amazing the amount of skills that great teachers possess. They need so much more recognition for their hard work and dedication.
My appreciation for teachers started when I was a young child.
I have vivid memories of many, many amazing teachers who left imprints on my mind and on my heart. My memories are from preschool through college of my many amazing educators.
Some of my favorite memories are the stories that my teachers shared and the fun that we had learning.
My best teachers during my childhood shared stories that helped inspire me and make me want to be a better person.
They were also extra creative with their teaching style. We had fun learning.
I have one favorite teacher who will forever be in my mind and heart. He’s been a great role model throughout my life.
Many of his catchphrases still pop into my mind!
“Reach for excellence.”
“Strive to be your best.”
My admiration for teachers has continued as I’ve worked along side them in preschools and in every grade level in schools. I’ve watched the amazing skills they have that make them such effective teachers.
Many of the best teachers who truly amaze me are my co-workers, friends, and close relatives!
Let’s celebrate teacher appreciation every month, maybe even every day!
An OT’s Attempt at Substitute Teaching
After I completed my master’s degree program for occupational therapy, I was made aware that the small town where I grew up was in need of substitute teachers.
Even though I didn’t have a teaching degree or certificate, my state permitted me to be a substitute teacher in elementary and high schools because I had at minimum, a bachelor’s degree. My bachelor’s degree in health science or my master’s degree in OT did not prepare me for managing and running an entire classroom full of kids! I was trained to work with special needs students either one on one or in small groups.
But, there was a need, and I was told that subbing would be easy. So I figured I would do my part to help out. (And, I was thinking maybe there would be breaks during they day when I could study for my national board certification test!)
Sounds like a great deal.
It wasn’t, really! Some of the high school teachers wrote lesson plans that only involved me writing an assignment on the board for the students.
Pretty easy. I got a little studying done while supervising students that weren’t really that much younger than me.
High school teachers spend so much time sharing their knowledge through presentations, activities, group work and games. They would not have expected a sub to carry out their lesson plans, thankfully for me! I didn’t have to teach lessons on subjects that I knew nothing about!
My high school subbing was fairly easy (aside from the teenage behaviors.) On the other hand, being a substitute teacher in elementary classrooms was way different!
Why Teachers Are Amazing!
My experience and attempt at substitute teaching in elementary schools made me realize that teachers are amazing!
Every elementary school teacher shared detailed lesson plans of schedules, directions, activities, projects, discussions, etc. I’m really sure each teacher put in so much extra time outside of school just creating their sub-plans when they were sick or needed to take care of a sick child.
The schedules from the elementary classroom teachers were SO tight. I felt like I was in a race with the clock all day! I quickly had to jump from one subject matter to another. Without losing any time.
And on top of the tight and busy schedule, I had no idea how difficult it would be to manage an entire class of young children!
You need so much skill, patience and tricks that I did not have at that time. It’s challenging to get a whole room of kids to pay attention and follow directions during every part of the school day!
I can’t even begin to tell you how exhausting the entire day was!
I realized then that teachers are amazing at what they do. And throughout my career working in the schools, I’ve only grown to admire great teaching even more!
So, hats off to ALL YOU high school and elementary teachers! YOU’RE ALL AMAZING and very appreciated!
Teachers Are Amazing – Top 7 Skills of Effective Teachers
1. Classroom Management
Firstly, the preparation, planning, and organization required to even begin to manage an entire room of children every day is challenging. This prep, planning and organization happens every day for an entire school year. Good teachers handle it so well. It’s a natural part of what they do.
Teachers, your classroom management is amazing!
You manage the schedule, lesson plans, curriculum, learning styles, classroom centers, time, interruptions, personalities, and behaviors. And then you assess, re-assess and make changes as needed.
The time management involved is impressive. The school day is a race against the clock. But you move smoothly along with it!
You keep all students on task with a focus on student achievement. Your instruction is differentiated with the different personalities and various students’ needs.
It is so much to manage every day. On top of this routine classroom management, every year (or month) you have new things added to your plate.
A new curriculum, new behavior plan, new educational technology, new student progress reporting forms or system, etc!
And you also have to manage your class with schedule changes and disruptions in your day!
Teachers, you are pro’s at classroom management.
2. Behavior Management
Managing an entire room of children and their behaviors is a skill that is not for everyone! I’ve seen various teaching styles that each come with successful behavior management.
And I have to say, I’ve been in the schools for over two decades and behaviors are starting to become so much more challenging.
However, teachers, you are able to gain respect from your students. They understand your expectations and follow your rules so that they can be active participants in your learning environment.
You create a structured and safe environment.
It’s admirable how an entire room of children behave well for you. An entire group. All at once!
Because of your high expectations, they begin to manage their behavior and strive to please you.
Not only are you teaching academics, but you’re also teaching kids how to be good people! To be the best version of themselves.
Embedded into your day are ways that they can be kind to each other. You teach what’s acceptable and not acceptable.
If there’s a problem, you listen. And then respond. You direct the different personalities and guide them to all function as best as they can together, even with their diverse backgrounds.
One of the best qualities of a good teacher is successful behavior management. You’re amazing at it!
3. Organizational Skills
This is an extra special skill, in addition to your classroom and behavior management!
There’s so much classroom organization required before you even start your school year. I’ve always felt that teachers cram 12 months of work into 10!
You set up an entire room for a year, maybe after finding out that you’re being relocated.
Or, you’re now an inclusion classroom. So you re-organize your space to invite another teacher in to share it with you.
Or, maybe a pandemic hit. And you have to now carry all of your belongings with you from class to class!
Staying organized throughout the entire year is crucial to the success of keeping everything running smoothly. Especially to race the clock every day!
Copying papers. Grading tests. Returning papers. Entering grades. Progress reports. Report cards. Communicating with parents. Keeping logs of emails or phone calls.
You have many organizational systems for each lesson and for each classroom center. Every nook and cranny of your room is organized with needed materials.
You don’t even think about this as a skill. It’s just another natural part of what you do.
4. Creativity
Teachers who add creativity to their busy lessons and schedules make me the most proud! Kids need to develop a growth mindset to foster creativity.
You focus on play-based learning and project based learning in order to further enhance learning. Your games and activities for your lessons and classroom centers are amazing. Kids enjoy their time with you because you create a love of learning.
Maybe you’ve had consecutive years when you teach the same thing. But it’s not the same to you. Because you find ways to present it differently to a new group of kids.
You think outside the box and recognize that learning happens in through multiple parts of the body and brain: outside, with movement, during brain break exercises, in your classroom centers, or during art projects and crafts.
Your creative teaching helps your students apply learning concepts for life, not just for the tests!
The activities are unique and you change them up so the kids (or you) don’t get bored.
And if you’re in a rut, you spend so much of your own time after school searching Pinterest or Google for other creative ideas!
5. Patience
Any parent who’s ever had a sleepover probably can admire the patience needed for a group of kids. And that’s just for a small group!
As a teacher, your patience is required for a large group of kids. All day. Every day.
Kids’ behaviors and challenging personalities can be really draining some days. I’ve watched teacher’s patience be tested with the kids who talk frequently and out of turn, or with kids who do not pay attention and follow directions.
But you continue to be a patient and kind teacher. Because you’re the leader in the room and you set the example for your students.
You’re patient with the children. Patient with changes. You listen to the parents and you’re patient with them.
When teaching, you wait out those kiddos who are struggling a little. The ones who just can’t seem to grasp the concept that you’ve introduced a few different ways. You try again, and make sure they truly understand before you move on.
You’ll never give up on them and take your responsibility seriously.
6. Adaptability
The one thing that stands so true in education:
Change is the only constant.
There is one saying that I repeat frequently in education:
Change is the only constant.
As a teacher, you’re always adapting to the never-ending changes.
Changes from the state, county, district, or school board. Or changes and different rules from school administrators.
You adjust to a new curriculum. Or to a new teaching model.
You adapt to staff changes and different personalities.
Maybe you have to learn a new computer system. So now entering grades and filling report cards takes more time. It challenges a part of your brain (that you don’t have time to challenge!)
Now you know that you can adapt to a pandemic and create an online classroom! You never thought you’d have to become so tech savvy with such short notice. But you did it!
And as we progress in our careers, you have to adapt and adjust to the changes in society. Maybe some changes make you speak up because you want what’s best for your students.
Hopefully you’re speaking out regarding too much technology that takes away from learning and development. It’s going to take many voices to speak up in order to prevent damage to children from excessive screen use.
7. Engaging Energy
Finally, the most impressive skill that I see in you as a teacher is how engaging you are! Your students look forward to seeing you every day.
The energy that consistently comes out of you (for them) is amazing. Even with all of the pressure around you and the changes and challenges, you capture the attention of your students.
As a professional, you rise to the occasion and always focus on your kiddos. They’re the reason you’re there. You make learning fun for them (which enhances memory!)
You’re teaching kids to love learning. Not just for you, but for them… for the rest of their lives.
Your enthusiasm promotes lifelong learning!
You connect with kids. Engage them in many ways. And you make learning fun!
You’re the inspiration to our youth.
THANK YOU. You’re appreciated and admired!
Happy National Teacher Appreciation Week! Even though I think we should thank and appreciate teachers EVERY day!
Share this post on your favorite social media platform with all of the teachers you know that possess these amazing skills… and probably more!
More From the Blog…
- Sensory Pyramid of Learning
- 25 Proprioceptive Brain Breaks for Kids That Improve Focus and Attention
- Learning Centers in the Classroom Using OT Activity Ideas
- 81 Positive, Heart Touching, and Inspirational Quotes for Teachers
- 10 Tips: How to Handle Behavior Problems at School
