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Life & Well Being

15 Skills a Teacher Must Practice

Teachers need a variety of professional development skills along with knowledge of their subject matter and experience in order to be an effective teacher.

Likewise, as rapid developments in technology integration into our day-to-day lives, they affect the way students learn and teachers teach. Modern teachers need to be competent in not only basic skills but new skill sets.

Here are 15 21st century professional development skills, or as we like to call them, “modern skills,” that today’s teachers should possess.

1. Adaptability

In this modern, digital age, teachers need to be flexible and able to adapt to whatever is thrown their way. Likewise, administrators are changing and updating expectations and learning standards. Whether it’s to the way students learn, the behavior their classroom exhibits, or their lesson plans, being able to adapt is a skill that every modern teacher must-have.

2. Confidence

Every teacher needs to have confidence, not only in themselves but in their students and their colleagues as well. A confident person inspires others to be confident, and a teacher’s confidence can help influence others to be better people.

3. Communication

Being able to communicate with not only your students but with parents and staff is an essential skill. Think about it: almost all of a teacher’s day is spent communicating with students and colleagues, so it is crucial to be able to talk clearly and concisely in order to get your point across.

4. Team Player

Part of being a teacher is being able to work together as part of a team or a group. When you work together as a team, it provides students with a better chance to learn and have fun. Networking with other teachers (even virtually) and solving problems together will only lead to success. Doing so fosters a sense of community, not only in your own classroom but school-wide as well.

5. Continuous Learner

Teaching is a lifelong learning process. The world is always changing, along with the curriculum and educational technology, so it’s up to you, the teacher, to keep up with it. A teacher who is always willing to go that extra mile to learn will always be an effective, successful teacher.

6. Imaginative

The most effective tool a teacher can use is their imagination. Teachers need to be creative and think of unique ways to keep their students engaged in learning, especially now that many states have implemented the Common Core Learning Standards into their curriculum. Many teachers are of the opinion that these standards are taking all of the creativity and fun out of learning, so teachers are finding imaginative ways to make learning fun again.

7. Leadership

An effective teacher is a mentor and knows how to guide their students in the right direction. They lead by example and are a good role model. They encourage students and lead them to a place of success.

8. Organization

Modern teachers have the ability to organize and prepare for the unknown. They are always ready for anything that is thrown their way. Need to go homesick? No problem, they have a substitute folder all ready to go. Studies show that organized teachers foster more effective learning environments. So it is even more imperative to be organized if you want higher-achieving students.

9. Innovative

A modern teacher is willing to try new things, from new educational apps to teaching skills and electronic devices. Being innovative means not only trying new things, but questioning your students, making real-world connections, and cultivating a creative mindset. It’s getting your students to take risks and learn to collaborate with others.

10. Commitment

While being committed to your job is a traditional teaching skill, it is also a modern one. A modern teacher needs to always be engaged in their profession. The students need to see that their teacher is present and dedicated to being there for them.

11. Ability to Manage Online Reputation

This 21^st century, modern teaching skill is definitely a new one. In this digital age, most, if not all, teachers are online, which means they have an “online reputation.” Modern teachers need to know how to manage their online reputations and which social networks are okay for them to use. LinkedIn is a professional social network to connect with colleagues, but other social networking site profiles, such as Instagram or Facebook, should remain private and separate from students.

12. Ability to Engage

Modern teachers know how to find engaging resources. Nowadays, it is essential to find materials and resources for students that will keep them interested. This means keeping up-to-date on new learning technologies and apps, and browsing the web, and connecting to fellow teachers. Any way that you can engage students and keep things interesting is a must.

13. Understanding of Technology

Technology is growing at a rapid pace. In the past five years alone we have seen huge advancements, and we will continue to see them grow. While these developments may be hard to keep up with, it is something that all modern teachers need to do. Not only do you need to understand the latest in technology, but you must also know which digital tools are right for your students. It’s a process that may take time but will be greatly influential in the success of your students.

14. Know When to Unplug

Modern teachers know when it’s time to unplug from social media and just relax. They also understand that the teacher burnout rate is high, so it’s even more critical for them to take the time to slow down and care for themselves. They also know when it’s time to tell their students to unplug and slow down. They give their students time each day for a brain break and let them unwind.

15. Ability to Empower

Teachers inspire; that’s just one of the qualities that come along with the title. Modern educators have the ability to empower students to be critical thinkers, innovative, creative, adaptable, passionate, and flexible. They empower them to solve problems, self-direct, self-reflect, and lead. They give them the tools to succeed, not only in school but in life.

Anand Kumar Gupta | 15 Jan 2021

Life & Well Being

5 Books to Ignite Every Teachers' Mind

These books are mostly written by teachers for teachers. They range from the latest research on students, teachers talking about overcoming inequality to help students learn, and great techniques every teacher can use in their classroom.

1. Other People's Children by Lisa Delpit

Why it's worth the read?

According to Lisa Delpit, teachers and students have to understand one another for classrooms to succeed. Delpit analyzes the cultural differences between teachers and students and provides some insight as to how teachers can leave cultural baggage at the door to really support students' needs. Delpit's follow-up book, Multiplication Is For White People, further expands on Other People's Children, analyzing the effect of the education reform movement on schools.

2. Savage Inequalities by Jonathan Kozol

Buy Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools Book Online at Low Prices in India | Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools Reviews & Ratings - Amazon.in

Why it's worth the read?

It provides a shocking look into just how unequal school can be for students living in different ZIP codes. Kozol shows that even resources and opportunities in public schools are determined by which ZIP code you happen to live in. Kozol also wrote The Shame of The Nation, where he visited 60 schools across the country in an effort to find some classrooms that could provide examples of great learning environments for all schools.

3. The Passion-Driven Classroom by Angela Maiers and Amy Sandvold

The Passion-Driven Classroom: A Framework for Teaching and Learning eBook: Maiers, Angela, Sandvold, Amy: Amazon.in: Kindle Store

Why it's worth the read?

Angela Maier and Amy Sandvold want to turn the conversation about the achievement gap into a conversation about how increasing passion in the classroom can create transformative change in students' lives.

4. Freedom Writers by Erin Gruwell

Buy The Freedom Writers Diary (20th Anniversary Edition): How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them Book Online at Low Prices in India |

Why it's worth the read?

English teacher Erin Gruwell tells of her experiences as a new teacher and reveals that most new teachers struggle with understanding their students' needs and backgrounds. Freedom Writers provides insights into how teachers can take back struggling classrooms and renew students' interest in learning. Watch an interview with Gruwell here.

5. Why Don't Students Like School? by Daniel T. Willingham

Why Don't Students Like School?: A Cognitive Scientist Answers Questions About How the Mind Works and What It Means for the Classroom by Daniel T. Willingham

Why it's worth the read?

This book is for teachers who want to know how their students' brains work. It tells how teachers can motivate their students to remember both their favorite TV shows and the things they learn in school.

Kajal Khanna | 07 Jan 2021

Fun Facts

Colour Therapy in our Everyday Lives

How Colours Define our Mood

Did you know your surroundings may be influencing your emotions and state of mind? Do you ever notice that certain places especially irritate you? Or that certain places are especially relaxing and calming? Well, there’s a good chance that the colors in those spaces are playing a part.

In art therapy, color is often associated with a person’s emotions. Color may also influence a person’s mental or physical state. For example, studies have shown that some people looking at the color red resulted in an increased heart rate, which then led to additional adrenaline being pumped into the blood stream.

You can learn more about how color therapy works and how light and color might affect us in this article..

Gurushala | 04 Jan 2021

Flora & Fauna

Types of Cactus

Cactus: Indigenous Desert Plant

A desert is often characterized by high temperature, high humidity and low precipitation and a drastic fall in temperature at night. When you think of the desert, you might not associate it with fertility, but there are a number of different plants – including cactuses – that inhabit the planet’s driest regions. Here are different types of cactus found in the desert!.

Gurushala | 04 Jan 2021