(ThySistas.com) Having a calling in life is something many of us worry about. If you haven’t found what excites you and what you are passionate about by the time you’ve left education, it can easily leave you feeling pretty apprehensive about the future. There is a lot of pressure to decide on a career path early on, but the important thing to remember is that everyone is different. Sure, there are plenty of people who are completely career-focused, and who sacrifice a lot of personal things for a flourishing job. But equally, there are also many of us who find ourselves drawn to other things, such as going traveling or having a family, over a career.
However, if you are feeling like you are at a bit of a crossroads in life – maybe your travels have come to an end, or perhaps your children are all grown up – now could be the time to think about your next
move, career-wise. Think about what personal traits you possess. Are you good with children, and do you enjoy helping other people? If so, a role as a teacher could be ideal for you. Here’s what you’ll need to kick start your path down the teaching route.
Patience
Having a good level of patience is an absolute must do for any teacher, especially if you are working with very young children. At these young ages, kid’s brains are still developing, and they are not able to process the complex things that we are used to thinking about on a daily basis. With this in mind, you will need to be willing to take things a little slower with them and be willing to explain things in much greater depth than you would to a fellow adult. Take your time with them and don’t stress out if they don’t get things right the first time – it’s not a reflection of you as a teacher, and their time will come.
Equipment
The idea that all a teacher needs is their own voice and a bit of motivation to keep kids interested is a total myth. Children are very sensory learners, and at a young age, they are still developing new ways of looking at the world around them. Therefore, a method of learning that works for one child may not necessarily work for another. Stock up on teacher supplies, so you have an abundance of things to pull out of the bag whenever you feel you need to change your approach on a particular topic. It can also help keeps kids engaged on a boring subject, too.
Enthusiasm
We don’t tend to think of children as being particularly emotionally developed, but the truth is that they are much more receptive to emotions than you may first think. If you are downtrodden and lacking in energy, the kids you are teaching will automatically pick up on this. Even if you do not feel that upbeat, try and boost your mood before you go into class and treat each day as a fresh start. Your good mood will start to rub off on your young students, and you will get better results from them as a result.
Staff Writer; Lisa Day