Teachers’ Attitude: Molding Teachers’ Attitudes for Molding Students Beahaviour

Teachers have the opportunity to leave an indelible impression on their students’ lives. School experiences mold, shape, and, can influence how children view themselves inside and outside of school. These school memories have the potential to last a lifetime in students’ minds and can play a consequential role with present and future decisions. It does not take long for students to realize that teachers make the difference between a long and boring school year and an exciting and challenging year.
When teachers are asked, "Why do you want to be a teacher?” The response is commonly, "I want to be able to make a positive difference in the lives of my
students.” Many teachers continue to say they also want to be an effective teacher who will be remembered fondly by their former students. Some want to have a chance to be a better teacher than the teachers they personally experienced.
However it is stated the axiom that teachers usually teach in the way they were taught. This compelling statement highlights the importance of reviewing and analyzing students’ prior educational experiences for insight into the effective and ineffective attitudes and actions of teachers. The effective attitudes and actions employed by teachers ultimately can make a positive difference on the lives of their students by examining prior educational experiences, teachers can discuss what they should or should not do with a class of students. The five frequently discussed attitudes and actions include: a genuine caring and kindness of the teacher, a willingness to share the responsibility involved in a classroom, a sincere sensitivity to the students’ diversity, a motivation to provide meaningful learning experiences for all students, and an enthusiasm for stimulating the students’ creativity.



Five Effective Teacher Attitudes

First Attitude: Demonstrating Caring and Kindness

This attitude pertains to the persona of the teachers. The effective teachers willingly shared emotions and feelings (Ex: enthusiasm, affection, patience, sadness, disapproval) as well as a sincere interest and care about their students. Communication is also valued in classrooms and feelings are openly expressed by both the children and teachers. In some cases it wouldn’t be bad if entire school curriculums were built around the ethic of care



Second Attitude: Sharing Responsibility

This attitude focuses on the ability of the teacher to establish a shared environment. It is emphasized that an effective teacher must not be overly possessive or need complete control of the children and environment. It is important to allow students both responsibility and freedom within the classroom community. Both the teachers and students need to contribute to the learning environment for a relationship of closeness and acceptance to develop. The learning process should be organized in such a way that students take responsibility for their own learning. Students should be independent and able to make decisions about their learning ability and then plan accordingly.


Third Attitude: Sensitively Accepting Diversity

This attitude deals with empathy and the importance of understanding your students. It is identified sensitivity, acceptance, and encouragement as critical when approaching the issues associated with the diversity of the children. Effective teachers understand their students without analyzing or judging. Teachers gotta have the ability to make each child feel special by verbally sharing individual compliments in front of the class. Also, teachers who keep a written record of how many times they talked and listened to each child and how that can make students feel valued and important. “A child may be born with a talent but someone, such as a teacher, needs to realize and believe in it or it may not ever be nurtured. A teacher has the ability to reinforce, support, and appreciate the work and play of her students.”


Fourth Attitude: Fostering Individualized Instruction

This attitude discusses the ability to provide meaningful learning opportunities for all students. Students really appreciate teachers who helped them succeed with their learning experiences. On the other hand, some teachers are used to using intimidation in front of the class which could result in a reluctance to volunteer. Then, effective teachers believe that every child can and will learn thus it is important for teachers not to point out weakness, but instead stress individual strengths and talents. This way, teachers are credited for encouraging positive self-confidence and self- esteem. “Effective teachers and especially those who teach children with special needs, should pay attention to students’ progress and actively involve them in learning activities, while offering guidance and praise for effort and accomplishments.”

Fifth Attitude: Encouraging Creativity

This attitude stresses the importance of stimulating the students’ creativity. It might be really helpful if teachers listened to ideas and suggestions for lessons and activities. The effective teachers are open to students’ ways of being imaginative and also utilize many approaches to learning. The students appreciate and are personally motivated when teachers design lessons that consider their interests, skills, and needs.
The eight intelligences identified by Gardner (1997) are: verbal-linguistic, logical-mathematical, visual-spatial, bodily kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic. “Gardner’s notion supports that education needs to accommodate students’ unique ways of learning and creativity needs to be a partner in the learning process.”

Universidad Latina De Costa Rica 2009
By Óscar Conejo Chacón