Teacher — Like Water
Solid in principles, flexible in communication, light as steam — after work.
What should a teacher be like?
There won't be a simple answer here.
My personal experience from school, university, additional education, various professions and positions, of which there were no less than a dozen, though useful, never gave me a universal model.
In practice, I had to realize how the spectrum of tasks influences the approach to organizing and conducting classes.
Analogy With a Chef
The same chef remains a good specialist both in a cafeteria and a restaurant, but the work process determines how much their potential will be realized.
Same with a teacher — before starting classes, they organize space for their work.
Moreover, this space isn't limited to physical setting. There's work on your own state and on students' state.
I never even thought about how many subtle adjustments and mental constructs you need to make for classes until I personally faced it.
Real Creativity
When a comfortable environment is ready, real creativity begins during the lesson.
And this is definitely one of the most creative professions.
- There's room for:
- Improvisation
- Adaptation
- Attention management
- Material presentation
- Controlling your own and others' emotions
- Working with discipline and motivation
And this is still just standard aspects of lessons.
In Our Field
- Speaking of our field — add here:
- Solving technical problems
- Generating ideas
- Working on students' projects
- Resource allocation
- And much more
- That is, it's such a living process where you have to be not just a teacher, but also:
- Coach
- Psychologist
- Competitor
- Leader
- Authority
While staying on the same wavelength, in reach.
Burnout
And not everything goes smoothly.
You invested in a person, with a reserve for the future. Gave your resource. Not tempted by power, leaving the person the right to make mistakes and have their own opinion. Did what you could, but problems arose. Any kind.
And here you are, a living person, holding this in your head and analyzing. Classes already passed, but you're still there, in reflection.
Until you burn out.
And only then realize your boundaries and capabilities.
- You're not responsible for:
- Family upbringing
- Expectations of people who don't understand your work
My Answer
Teacher — like water.
- Solid in principles
- Flexible in communication
- Light as steam after work
What do you think?