Essential Elements for Successful Teaching

It is essential for educators to recognize the need for teaching not only specific content, but life. For too many of our students today, positive role models do not exist at home. Therefore, it is essential for educators to be active role models of success. We need to be living examples of individuals who are able to make intelligent life decisions; maintain a positive outlook, even in the midst of difficulties and setbacks; view experiences as opportunities for growth; accept change; approach life with curiosity, and work hard.

Students need teachers who are able to maintain control of themselves and their own lives, providing their students with a clear, healthy example of how to best handle oneself. Students arrive at school with problems and situations too numerous to categorize. Never was this so clearly evident to me until I became involved with the SAP program years ago. Too often, young people feel powerless and trapped by a particular life situation. At a time in their lives when they need to be thinking more clearly, and working even harder, many often give up altogether, compounding their difficulties.

Some of the most valuable learning takes place when students observe their teachers in non-academic environments. How they handle disagreements or misunderstandings among colleagues, how they conduct themselves at sporting events or other activities, or how they cope with personal conflicts in their own lives all contribute to endless opportunities for learning by example.

Valuable learning also takes place when educators are able to apply course content to real life. This aids the student in formulating a deeper awareness and understanding of not only the content being taught, but also of their own self-reflection in reference to the world around them. It is the teacher who is not adverse to providing a portion of him/herself who is more likely to establish trust and credibility. It is only then that students are ready to listen and to learn from rather than disregard the instructor.

To encourage life-long learning in our students, teachers also need to be knowledge-seekers, themselves. Teachers who have strong interests beyond their own content areas and are able to diversify their lives, while still maintaining quality in all aspects of their lives, are more influential in establishing interest and encouraging intellectual curiosity among their students.

Too often, educators fear to tread beyond strict content, and as a result, students are not only bored and disengaged, but also in desperate need of direction. We need to be able to provide that direction and help students to see the direct correlation between how they choose to handle themselves in making their life decisions, and what the future can give them in return, regardless of their current life situation.