Becoming a Teacher and Professionalism

Being professional means handling yourself well in various situations, treating others with respect, having a high work ethic and striving for excellence. Acting professionally leads to workplace success as well as gaining a strong reputation. “The Federation’s codes and standards can be viewed as a starting point for members to think about their own conduct and competence as teachers, and to discuss with colleagues what is important to them as professionals, what teaching practice should involve and what, if anything, they should change in their practice to meet students’ learning needs.”. Teachers should be able to understand what is being asked of them and be able to adapt to meet their students needs. 

I believe that teachers are teachers 24 hours a day. This is because they teach students throughout the day but still have a responsibility to answer students’ questions and guide them through assignments even after class has finished for the day. Teachers should be able to stay after school hours when asked to aid students with assignments and they should have access to their email to answer students throughout the day. Teachers are also responsible for marking homework and other assignments once they have completed their teaching for the day. In addition to this, teachers may be asked to assist with extra curricular activities such as sports teams or clubs.  

“The public trusts professional teachers because they have the qualifications, including specialized knowledge, skills and judgment, to serve students’ educational needs.”. I believe that by being a student in the Faculty of Education you are expected to learn proper and effective teaching methods and that you put a lot of effort into figuring out your own teaching style and how you will engage with your students. It is important to know how to conduct yourself in a classroom and be able to help others when asked. It is expected that you are putting time and effort into your studies and making an effort to think about how to be professional once I begin my career as an educator.