Teachers have the potential to affect change in the future. Many of us will go out with a passion in hopes to inspire our students. In order to be an effective teacher, one must possess virtues that will be carried out in the classroom. Three of the moral and intellectual virtues identified by Illinois State University that I personally value include having a great knowledge of the content, sensitivity toward diversity, and understanding appropriate teaching strategies.
Having a wide general knowledge and a deep knowledge of content are both equally important qualities. The subject I hope to teach one day is English. I feel that literature can relate to all aspects of life and linguistic skills can enhance ones scholastic performance. Because I am so passionate about this particular subject, I plan to take full advantage of the English courses offered at ISU to deepen my knowledge of the content. I also plan to pay particular attention to the teaching methods of my English professors in hopes to learn a few strategies. A teacher who is enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the material is more likely to influence the students to have a positive attitude about learning.
A wide general knowledge is important because teachers are looked at as mentors and role models. A student may come to a certain teacher for help in any content area. This type of knowledge can be attained by taking all of the general education classes seriously. I will also to my best to become familiar with all of the resources available to students in order to be able to direct students if I am unfamiliar with a topic.
Sensitivity toward individual and cultural diversity is another essential part of becoming a teacher. We might be put in a classroom of very unique students and we have to be comfortable enough to adapt to anyone. I will use my clinical experiences to take a look at the diversity within classrooms and use my own classes to work with others who learn differently.
Understanding of what affects learning and appropriate teaching strategies is the third and most important virtue in my opinion. What teachers want students to learn and what information they are actually taking in are two different things. Teachers sometimes do not realize that their strategies are not the most effective. I want to try to develop several lesson plans and see which ones work with different types of students. Everyone learns differently and it is the teacher’s responsibility to create effective lessons.
Various virtues are essential to developing the character of a teacher. Deep knowledge of content and a wide general knowledge are essential qualities to stand in front of a classroom and teach. Sensitivity toward differences and understanding of appropriate teaching methods will also affect the quality of a teacher. I will utilize my time here at ISU to develop the best qualities in order to be a excellent teacher in the future.
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