‘Good Teachers are Born’

Dear Readers,
TOB is back. This week, I will share to you the aptitudes for teaching.
Educators and education specialists are one in concluding that “good teachers are born.” Stated in another way, the good ones are “born teachers.” Decades of observations and intimate conversations reveal why teachers chose teaching as their lifetime occupation. This article intends to shed light on why they made such a decision. More important, what special interests, strong inclinations and predispositions make them fit to answer the “call” and nature of this profession.
Aptitude is a general word for a natural ability or capacity to do well in a particular field. It is sometimes referred to as a talent or a “gift.” Being endowed from birth, it is deeply ingrained. Therefore a good teacher possesses an aptitude or a native capacity for teaching.
What are the aptitudes that are absolutely suited to the teaching profession? Are they common to those who made this very important decision? Some of the highly considered are herein stated. Stress is on inherited capabilities.

1. Sharp Memory
Memory is the ability to remember. Likewise it is the power to recall previous learning or stored knowledge. As a teacher, he must be able to remember the topics he should discuss during the class hour. This is expected or else he can be branded dull or simply forgetful. He should be keen in keeping and retrieving information from memory.
A teacher should be able to retain information and recall it later. A review of past learning is important before presenting a related topic, especially if they belong to one unit. A connection is established between the two, thus facilitating a smooth flow in the right direction.
Daily teaching is not simply knowing what to teach each day. For students, learning does not end in understanding a lesson for the day. The final step in teaching is assessing whether they have been learned and recalled as shown in an assessment instrument such as a short or unit test, an essay or an oral examination. A teacher who does not possess good memory to evaluate his students’ ability to remember is throwing to the wind what was learned by them. It is like merely depositing information in the mind and leaving it there.
A teacher with a creative and enduring memory possesses enormous energy and interest to store facts in his mind, connect them with upcoming related notes, make them “gel” for higher meanings and the fusion will bear spectacular “fruit.” Such is a teacher with an inherent aptitude for teaching – sharp and lasting memory. It is observed from birth.
At 12, students are sounded on a career of their choice. Because of their innate capacity to learn more and more, coupled with their aspiration to “help the innocent,” they become resolute that teaching is the right profession for them for the rest of their lives.

2. Genuine Love for Children
Teaching is recognized as an emotional and intellectual endeavor that connects teachers and students. To some it is an occupation that is described as a “loving engagement” with children through their learning and understanding. Others take the concept of love as synonymous to a teacher’s passion. One’s passion for serving the young make them decide to pursue teaching. Fondness for children keeps their passion glow in all directions, creating strong and lasting bonds with the young.
With such affection and personal attachment to children, every teacher is willing to extend time, effort and resources to make them learn. Sustained learning will, in the end, facilitate their continued knowledge-search and consistent skill development.
A loving teacher will be able to develop loving children. As they attend to their daily learning activities, the tasks become light due to a strong motivation and the prospect of learning with a loving teacher. As they grow with loving teachers from year to year, the tremendous influence on their emotional growth will keep them strong and confident in dealing with others, enthused with the same loving feeling.
Love for children is a mark of a good teacher.

To be continued…