Efficacy

Self-awareness, confidence, persistence, work ethic, and belief in one's ability.   Wow, that sure is quite a list.  But a list of what?    A list of different characteristics a teacher should have perhaps?  I think yes.  


All of these characteristics should be seen in all teachers.  Why? Well let's think about each one.


Number 1:  Self-awareness
I would hope that my teachers are aware of how they are teaching, how their teaching is affecting the students, what they can personally do to make their teaching better, etc....  This is a very important concept a teacher should be aware of.  If they are not aware of themselves, how can they be aware of their students? Just saying.


Number 2:  Confidence
A teacher that lacks confidence will be eaten alive. Seriously.  Even if a teacher shows the tiniest bit of doubt in themselves, their students will pounce.  I personally witnessed this in several of my teachers throughout high school. One in particular came to our school right out of college. She was very quiet and didn't know how to take control of the classroom in the beginning, and so was unable to really gain that control with the students without being challenged by the students.  It was a sad sight to see, but it is a tough world out there in those public schools.


Number 3: Persistence
This is definitely something that a teacher should have.  Being persistent that your students are learning the material that you are trying to teach will hopefully make an impact on them.   Lots of times teachers just give up trying to teach a certain idea because either their students just aren't getting it or they don't really care.  Don't give up!!!


Number 4: Work Ethic
Why be a teacher if you don't have a good work ethic?  It is not always fun and games when teaching; there is work involved.  I think that having a good work ethic doesn't mean you have to stick to your lesson plan entirely, but diverging away from the topic all the time can be pretty annoying and just make some things harder to learn.  I also think that a good work ethic entails going to school to teach because you love it.  I really dislike when teachers get to school as the bell rings in the morning and rush out of the school right as the bell rings to end the day.  What kind of work ethic are you teaching your students to have?  Not a very good one.


Number 5:  Belief in one's ability
This is a major part of teaching.  If you don't believe in your ability to teach, how do you expect your students to believe in your teaching?   You really can't.   So you better believe in yourself. :)


I know it kind of sucks to say, but if you don't already have most of these characteristics naturally, then time will hopefully help one to develop them.  That is surely easier said that done, but once these attributes are a part of a teacher, there is really no reason why they shouldn't be successful!