Written by: Accelerated Education Enterprises
Article source: JOY! Magazine
What do you think is the hardest job in the world? We’re sure you’ll get a different answer depending on who you ask, but, in truth, there is no wrong answer. Every career has its challenges, but something that really makes a difference is having the right attitude. This is especially true for early childhood development (ECD) teachers.
Classroom effectiveness
It may not be something you’ve thought about before, but a teacher’s attitude has been proven to have a direct correlation to their effectiveness in a learning environment. Also, learners benefit from being exposed to a positive attitude, as it helps create a supportive and engaging environment and affects their progress and success and builds their confidence.
Five attitudes of effective teachers
According to a study done by Bonni Gourneau at the University of North Dakota in 2005, there are specifically five attitudes that make for effective teachers:
1. Caring and kindness
Caring for one another stirs emotions and feelings. Acts of kindness, such as patience or listening, make the world a happier place and boost enthusiasm, optimism, and feelings of control in children. On the other hand, unkindness causes discomfort, sadness, and rebelliousness.
2. Sharing responsibility
When a teacher shares responsibility with the learners, a relationship of closeness and acceptance develops. It is important to allow children a certain level of freedom within the classroom community, for example, choosing between activities during play time.
3. Sensitive to diversity
Teachers with attitudes of sensitivity, acceptance, and encouragement understand their young learners without analysing or judging them. Complementing each child in front of the others makes them feel valued, special, and important.
4. Practicing individualised education
It is critical that meaningful learning opportunities are provided for all children. Teachers with this attitude help young learners to succeed in their learning experiences. They believe every child can and will learn and will always find a way to push children to be the best version of themselves. This attitude encourages self-confidence and self-esteem in learners.
5. Encouraging creativity
Teachers who listen to the learners’ ideas and suggestions encourage imagination and recognise that this is part of innovation and problem solving. Learners are motivated to try new things and learn to have a curious mindset. Teachers with this attitude consider the learners’ interests, skills, and needs.
A positive teacher, a positive learner
Having the right attitude is the easiest way to see the biggest improvement in performance, for both the teacher and the learner. Fostering a positive attitude can bolster general positivity, enhance daily performance, and alleviate stress in teachers. For learners, a teacher with a positive attitude can encourage in them a better self-image, confidence, enthusiasm, and a love for life-long learning.
There truly is no understating the power a teacher with a positive attitude can have on a group of young learners. You’ve got this, teachers!
Click here to KEEP UPDATED on the latest news by subscribing to our FREE weekly newsletter.
> Please support Christian media and journalism in South Africa. Help us to spread the Word of God and take a stand for the truth by making a donation to our ministry. We appreciate your support. Click here to take hands with JOY! Magazine.
Date published: 06/06/2024
Feature image: Image for illustrative purposes only. Artwork from www.freepik.com
DISCLAIMER
JOY! News is a Christian news portal that shares pre-published articles by writers around the world. Each article is sourced and linked to the origin, and each article is credited with the author’s name. Although we do publish many articles that have been written in-house by JOY! journalists, we do not exclusively create our own content. Any views or opinions presented on this website are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company.
Love is a key to everything.It embrace all that need to be applied in caring and nurturing a child.There are many workshops been attended for Childhood Development,and we still have problems in how to make learners excel.Love, Endurance,Patience, Gentleness and Self-control are the foundation of every teacher,without these characters Teachers need to submit under MOST HIGH GOD teachings.