It takes more than knowing the content to be a good teacher. One of the most important aspects of teaching is building relationships with your students. Teacher-child relationships influence how a child develops. The relationship can relate to a wide range of school adjustment outcomes, including liking school, work habits, social skills, behavior, and academic performance.
As a teacher you need to provide and create learning opportunities, encourage peer mentoring and discussion, and encourage collaboration and sharing of knowledge. Allow space for individual approaches to learning. Be flexible and develop and cooperative learning environment. As the teacher you need to allow students to take responsibility for their own learning and act as the student’s facilitator, not just lecture on your own knowledge. Your role as a teacher is to work with students, not to tell students what to do.
While you want to be a facilitator you are still in a position of power; teaching requires authority. The students need to be aware that you are in a relationship where you, the teacher, has the authority in the classroom. The concept of power needs to be a part of the curriculum and be known by students. Without power or authority you can lose respect.
If a teacher displays enthusiasm and pleasure in teaching it can rub off on their students. Students will do more of what you want them to do when they like and respect you and are engaged and interested in their studies. A good relationship will lead to the best possible long term outcomes for students and educators the same.
