My Philosophy of Being a Successful Teacher

Success is measured by the accomplishment of goals. A successful teacher achieves the task of teaching students. Teaching students is not enough in today’s classroom. A great teacher will go beyond teaching to enrich, captivate, and inspire students’ minds. Being a successful teacher and being a great teacher are two entirely different things. I aspire to be a great teacher.

A successful teacher is someone who teaches children the information in the curriculum. Students will remember the information that a successful teacher has taught them, and it will serve as a base for future learning. Other successful teachers will build on this information. A student with many successful teachers will be very knowledgeable.

A great teacher is a successful teacher, but a great teacher is much more. A great teacher will not only teach what is in the curriculum, but he or she will show students the applications of the material. Great teachers will provide additional opportunities to enrich the students’ understanding. Students will have a greater and deeper understanding of the material taught by a great teacher.

One thing that signifies a great teacher is the creation of life long learners. A great teacher must capture the interest of the students and keep their minds asking questions and begging for more information. It is one thing to have students learn, but having students want to learn is really a feat. The initiation of this love of knowledge will keep these students thinking, wondering, and discovering for the rest of their days.

The most important function that a great teacher must perform is to inspire. The teacher does this in many ways. The students may observe the passion with which the great teacher teaches. The students may notice this teacher being proud of his or her students. The students may find themselves completely enraptured by the material because of the way it captures the great teacher. Most importantly, the students may find that they are being cared about. This encouragement is what inspires students to achieve.

It is necessary that every teacher be a successful teacher, but it is an honor to have a great teacher. Throughout my life, I have had the pleasure of having several great teachers. I know that in becoming great teachers these people had to have experience, enthusiasm, and compassion. Experience is something I do not have, but that will come with time. However, the enthusiasm and compassion lie within me. I know that I can combine these skills to not only become a successful teacher, but a great teacher.