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Teacher Appreciation Week

May 6—10, 2019

Teachers are out of this world. They change the lives of millions of children every day, working to impact their students far beyond the boundaries of the classroom. Let’s take a closer look at what it takes to become one of these amazing people.

Becoming a teacher

It takes training, and a whole lot of heart. To teach in public schools, teachers need a bachelor’s degree in education. Some states may require a major in a content area like math or science. They also must obtain a state-issued certificate from a teacher’s education program and be licensed or certified in the specific grade level they will teach.

Teacher requirements

Along with the education, teachers need to possess certain qualities to succeed.

Communication skills

Teachers interact with a variety of age groups so they need to know how to effectively communicate with each group in a manner they will understand.  

Patience

Students come with different abilities and backgrounds, which can sometimes be difficult to handle. Teachers need patience, especially when dealing with dozens of students at a time.

Stamina

Teachers don’t get to spend a lot of time sitting down, so they need to be able to keep up with their students physically, mentally and emotionally.

Resourcefulness

Teachers need to be able to explain new ideas and concepts to their students in a way they can understand. Sometimes this means adapting lesson plans to meet students’ needs.

More than teaching

Helping a student learn and apply concepts is only part of the workload. Teachers must also:

  • Create and teach lesson plans
  • Observe and evaluate a student's abilities, strengths and weaknesses
  • Grade assignments
  • Talk to parents
  • Work with students individually
  • Prepare students for standardized tests
  • Develop and enforce classroom rules
  • Supervise students outside of the classroom

During Teacher Appreciation Week, we want to say thank you to all of the teachers who help children reach for the stars.
 

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