6 Qualities Students Seek In Teachers

Image by: Denise Krebshttps://www.flickr.com/photos/mrsdkrebs/

Over the years, generations, geographical borders and technological leaps, most students have been found seeking mostly the same things in their teachers; and this ‘search’ is worthy of great attention.

You probably have noticed that the word is ‘seek IN their teachers’ and not ‘from’.

Yes; students obviously seek knowledge from their teachers – but what do they usually seek IN teachers? Let us find out.

Understanding:

Students need their teachers to understand them. More than their strengths, their apprehensions; hopes; expectations; feelings. Their wishes, big and small. The wish to get a break from studies, just for the last ten minutes of class, on a particularly tired day. The wish to win the greatest award that they can. The wish to know YOU, their teacher. Students wish you would just understand them all. Whether they tell you, or not. Just like the understanding they expect from their parents.

Empathy:                                                                 

Students seek their teachers to not just feel FOR them, but also WITH them. When they feel the pressure of examinations approaching, they wish their teacher could also FEEL the way they are feeling, and present and handle situations accordingly. If they have a Literature test coming up spanning five lessons, they wish their teachers would feel the pressure they are feeling, and perhaps curtail their HomeWork somewhat? Or give them a period off to revise? Or, in the least, smile and offer them some understanding, help or support?

When students win a match or award, or simply do better in class, they wish their teachers would also share their euphoria, and express it. If not by clapping and cheering aloud, then at least with an encouraging pat on the back and a “Well done” or “Proud of you”? Short sentences and gestures, but everlasting impacts.

Wisdom:

Yes; it is but understood that a teacher has to be wise. Students seek to see this wisdom reflected in their teachers’ words and deeds,too. Within the class and school, and without. That reassures them that there is wisdom and perfection in the world, as reflected by their teachers, and it in turn inspires students to emulate their teachers. We see now, how crucial it is for a teacher to express wisdom through speech, manner,  decisions, actions and reactions. Always.

Image By: https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/

Justice:

Young minds are impressionable. Moreover, students are taught all positive virtues in class. They need to see the same in practice, too, in order to follow them perfectly. When students are taught the value of Justice, they need to see and realize how it can be followed.

We, as teachers, therefore, need to ensure that our words and deeds reflect the virtue of Justice. That could mean, no misunderstanding a student’s intent by seeing a deed that might not seem perfect at a glance. Fairness in the way we treat all people and situations. The wisdom to know what is right and the courage to support or follow it. We, as teachers, need to be extremely discerning, so as never to disappoint the expectations of our students, when it comes to the positive values that we preach.

Curiosity:

Yes; just as we like our students to be curious and ask us more, students love their teachers to be curious, too, so that they can share more with them. Share their knowledge, happiness, apprehensions, wishes, hopes, aspirations… and so much more! When they visit a new place, they want their teacher to be interested in hearing what they have to say about it. When they pursue a new hobby and want to tell their teacher how exciting it is, they wish their teacher would equally love to ask and learn more about it.

If a child sits looking lonely, chances are, deep down, s/he wishes a teacher would be interested to know if something is bothering him/her. And find a solution. Like parents do. We need to understand that. We need to show our students how genuinely we care for them. Not just the copies they submit or the marks they obtain, but the human beings that they are, and have the potential to grow up to being.                                                                                  

Sense of Humor:

Life might not turn out exactly the way one would prefer it to be; and one could do with a good laugh, or at least a few smiles, to make up for it. Teachers often need to demonstrate that, as well. Or, laugh along with students. Laugh, when s/he finds students laughing with two puppies playing at a park, nearby. Laugh, when a student shares a funny tale. Joke a bit, too, as and when proper. It encourages students to look at and enjoy the brighter side of life. Students love to see their joy mirrored on the face of their teacher – it gives them a reassuring feeling of bonding better. We need to strengthen that.

These are some of the qualities that students all over the world seek in their teachers. Through generations. Even though technology has advanced and taken Teaching and the typical classrooms along with it, at the end of the day, we are still human beings. With feelings; not batteries or wires. These feelings need to be nurtured, and safeguarded. To bring the world more advancement. Teachers need to protect feelings, as they develop the future world.