What is the Role of a Teacher?
Updated March 13, 2017
Question: What is the Role of a Teacher?
The role of a teacher is to help students apply concepts, such as math, English, and science through classroom instruction and presentations. Their role is also to prepare lessons, grade papers, manage the classroom, meet with parents, and work closely with school staff. Being a teacher is much more than just executing lesson plans, in today's world a teacher's role is a multifaceted profession; they carry the role of a surrogate parent, class disciplinarian, mentor, counselor, book keeper, role model, planner and many more.
Elementary school teachers play an important role in the development of students. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook offered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, elementary school teachers are often the sole source of a student's learning experience. What students learn in their formative years can shape how they are in the future.
The Benefits of the role Teachers Take on
The role of a teacher is clearly more than just planning and executing lesson plans, it's also becoming the student's third parent. Look at the amount of time teachers spend with their students. One benefit of the role of a teacher is being a constant role model for their students. Children that lack a solid family foundation will really benefit from a positive role model. Teachers that portray an image of confidence and accomplishment will help fulfill a child's need of a positive role model when the family may fail to provide such a figure.
How a Teachers Role Changes
The role of a teacher changes depending upon the grade in which they teach. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes the role of a teacher in kindergarten includes developing skills that are necessary to excel and progress to the next year. While the role of a teacher in the intermediate grades includes teaching specific information about a particular subject.
A Teachers Role in Today's World
According to the George Lucas Educational Foundation, the role of a teacher today is much different than it used to be. Teacher's used to be told what to teach, and how to teach it. They were expected to use the same methods for all students. In today's world of education, a teacher's role is quite multifaceted. Their job is to counsel students, help them learn how to use their knowledge and integrate it into their lives so they will be valuable member of society. Teachers are encouraged to really tune into how each individual student learns, and try to really challenge and inspire them to learn.
Reinventing the Role of Teachers
Aside from the primary role of lesson planning and classroom instruction. teachers are taking on other roles in education. They are:
- Working with politicians, colleagues, and community members to set clear and obtainable standards for our students.
- Participating in the decision making that helps to deal with the problems that affect our students learning.
- Mentoring new teachers and getting them ready to teach the youth of today.
Teachers Duties
- Plan lessons that teach specific subjects, such as math, science, and English.
- Teach whole groups. or small group the lessons that they have prepared.
- Assess and evaluate student's abilities (strengths and weaknesses).
- Prepare students for standardized tests.
- Communicate student progress to parents.
- Develop and enforce classroom rules .
- Supervise children during extracurricular activities(lunch, playground, etc.).
- Conduct in-class activities.
- Plan field trips .
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