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How teachers can increase their confidence in the classroomIn order to fully succeed as a teacher, one must have confidence in what they teach and their ability to teach it. This can be obtained in many ways. I have chosen to discuss the ones that I think are most important. A teacher needs to be the best possible resource for their students. One must also always be prepared, not only with a lesson for the day, but a back up plan on a daily basis in case plans change. To be a teacher, you must also be a good learner, or a person that can adapt well to any given situation. Finally, and most importantly, one must realize that confidence comes with time. Teachers need to be the best possible resource for their students. This means that a teacher must know, or at least seem to know, everything there is to know about what they teach. Of course this is completely unrealistic to know absolutely everything about any given topic in the classroom, which is why I emphasize that seeming to know will also help you succeed. After you gain some experience, you will begin to see some patterns developing, students asking similar questions, etc. Recognizing these patterns will allow you to be more prepared to answer them. Having the answers for students will help you to get the students' trust and thus, gain your own teaching confidence. Recognizing that plans change and being able to adapt is another vital bit of information that can truly help a teacher's confidence. You may have a whole lesson planned around a video, and when you get to the classroom, the DVR does not work. An unprepared teacher would become flustered and lose confidence in oneself, but a prepared teacher would be ready to change the lesson accordingly! You may have a back up plan that you keep on the side burner for a rainy day, and never use it. Or you may have to think of several in case this seems to become a pattern in your classroom. Either way, being prepared is essential in the field of teaching. This also goes with the idea of adaption and learning from past situations. If you are a good learner, you will know how to be prepared! Also, if you are a good learner, you can put yourself in your students' shoes and try to understand where they are coming from on the learning side of the classroom. This will help your rapore with the students and once again, boost confidence. Finally, a beginning teacher must realize that confidence in your teaching abilities comes with time and experience. Some people must learn through trial and error, and that is okay! Over time you will realize what works and doesn't work with what kinds of classes. You may have some lessons are total duds, but it is okay to take these bad lessons and learn from them to create better plans in the future. You will also learn your own strengths and weaknesses. I, for instance, will probably learn that I am an awful artist and will opt to play less teacher-student Pictionary! But these lessons will come with time, and if you are willing to accept that, there is no doubt you can become an excellent teacher!
