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1. What is a Teacher?

As a teacher, you will play an important role in shaping the lives of young people. You will inspire, motivate and encourage a new generation of learners and guide them to make a positive impact in the world around them. A school teacher helps their students develop a passion for learning and understand the impact and importance of lifelong education. Additionally, salaries and benefits for experienced teachers can be excellent. 

Teaching is an interesting and challenging profession. Teachers serve as role models, advisors, caretakers and counselors. They can have a profound influence on their students' lives.

Primarily, teachers will convey knowledge to their students to help them learn new things about a specific subject area. They find new ways to support their students' learning styles and pay attention to the fact that students, especially younger ones, will learn at different paces and rates than their peers. Because of this, teachers need to have a high degree of adaptability and flexibility with their lesson plans.

A creative mind, ears that know how to listen and strong communication skills are necessary to succeed in the role of a teacher. Individuals of strong character are especially in demand.

Teaching is a career path available to anyone with a bachelor's degree who can commit to achieving Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). There are some routes that can lead to QTS, including on-the-job training in a school where you can earn while you learn.

Most importantly, teaching is an excellent career choice for those who want to make a difference in the lives of young people and are passionate about lifelong learning.

2. What does a teacher do? 

The role of a teacher is to inspire, motivate, encourage and educate learners. Learners can be of all ages and from all backgrounds. However, for the purpose of this guide, teachers refer to those who educate young people in school-age years (around 4-18 years old).

Teachers serve many roles within a school environment. Gone are the days when a teacher was just seen as an educator in the classroom; someone who solely taught one main subject to a class full of children and then went home at the end of the day - job done. Teachers can work across many subjects which they can bring to life with the help of modern technologies and interactions. 

The role of the teaching profession has expanded. From imparting knowledge to safeguarding children's wellbeing, welfare, critical thinking and ethical values, teachers occupy a central position within the community. They are often passionate individuals dedicated to lifelong learning.

Teachers plan lessons and teach those plans to the whole class, individually to students or in small groups, monitor students' progress and present information to parents, set tests, create and reinforce classroom rules, work with school administration to prepare students for standardized tests, and manage students outside the classroom, such as in hallways, recess, etc.

Other types of teachers include special education teachers, working with disabled students, adult literacy and GED teachers, working with adults and youth no longer in school, and post-secondary teachers in colleges, universities and trade schools.

3. The roles and responsibilities of a teacher

The responsibilities of a teacher are very broad and can vary significantly depending on the school you teach at, your subject specialty and surrounding community. For example, an elementary school teacher in a private school with a class of six-year-olds would have a completely different job and career than a high school history teacher in a state-funded academy. However, there will always be some commonalities across all teaching roles.

A teacher's duties may include:

• Teaching students based on national curriculum guidelines in your subject areas.

• Planning, preparing and delivering lessons.  

• Encouraging students to engage in lessons and other school-related activities.

• Supporting the leadership team to implement school development plans.

• Assessing and reporting on students' behavior.

• Providing students with educational and social guidance and/or referring them into specialist counseling as needed.

• Ensuring the highest standards of quality and applying the most up-to-date teaching methods.

• Participating in opportunities to enhance your own learning and continuous professional development (CPD).

• Attending staff meetings to support smooth school operations and administration.

• Liaising with parents, carers, guardians, support staff and other professionals to safeguard and ensure the educational welfare of students declared to have special educational needs (SEN).

4. Skills required of a teacher

• Critical Thinking - With strong critical thinking skills, teachers can consider students' best interests while working within their organization's goals and standards. Elementary and secondary school teachers also must be aware of parents' expectations around learning and discipline and ensure their classroom is a safe and nurturing environment.

• Patience - Teachers at all levels should know their classrooms will represent many cultural backgrounds, learning styles and intellects. Enthusiastic students may contribute more to class discussions and be easier going, but many students may present other challenges such as lateness or disruptive behavior. Teachers should be patient and help maintain a balance between their own expectations and students' abilities. For example, if a student is struggling with learning multiplication tables, a patient teacher may work with them after school hours or extend the due date for homework assignments.  

• Communication - Teachers communicate in many ways, including spoken language, written language and body language. Strong oral communication means teachers make their lesson materials and expectations clear. They will present concepts in a way students can understand. Teachers demonstrate written communication skills when they provide feedback on assignments and write progress reports for parents.

• Organization - Elementary and middle school teachers often have 30 or more students in a single classroom. To be effective, teachers must have the ability to manage their materials and students well. An organized classroom will have books and technology in places where distracted students can access them during lessons. Teachers with strong organizational skills will have pens, whiteboard markers, paper and other supplies easily accessible.

• Imaginative Thinking - Depending on students' ages, teachers can use imagination in various ways. Younger students' teachers may learn to incorporate singing or creative arts into their classrooms to stimulate learning. High school or post-secondary educators teaching older subject matter can use modern mediums like film or television to illustrate recent forms of similar topics.  

• Leadership - Teachers need leadership skills both in and outside the classroom. Modeling behaviors for students can be key to developing commitment to learning and general responsibility in life. Leadership is also important when interacting with other teachers and school administrators. Demonstrating strong leadership skills, teachers may accept additional duties such as coaching a sports team or directing an interest club like chess or drama. Teachers with high leadership abilities may have more opportunities for advancement into positions like principal or superintendent.

• Teamwork - Similar to leadership, teamwork helps teachers interact considerately and effectively with other staff at their schools. Teachers regularly have planning meetings to develop the best curricula and classroom practices for students. In these meetings, teachers with strong teamwork skills can accept input from others, even if they disagree.

• Time Management - Teaching is often a job that requires working at home. Teachers need evenings and weekends to plan lessons, class assignments and sometimes shop for classroom materials. To maintain a healthy work-life balance, teachers will require time management skills. Strategies may include dedicating set hours each day for relaxation, exercise or other personal activities. 

• Computer Skills - As classrooms continue integrating technology, computer skills are becoming more important for teachers. In addition to record keeping, educators can use computers to plan lessons, spreadsheets, online tutorials, tests and other assignments. Teachers also use digital mediums in the classroom, including online videos and interactive exercises to make their materials more engaging. For older students' teachers, computers may be necessary to aid direct research in online libraries and databases. Educators also regularly communicate with parents and school staff digitally, so they must feel comfortable sending and receiving emails.

• Conflict Resolution - Part of a teacher's responsibility includes the ability to manage disagreements in the classroom. Younger students' teachers may encounter conflicts around sharing resources like books, games or toys. In post-secondary classrooms, students can have conflicts around more personal issues like relationships. A teacher with well-developed conflict resolution skills will demonstrate patience and active listening to consider each perspective and work towards compromise. This skill could also prove useful if disagreements arise between teachers, students and parents or guardians.