Both teachers and students play an integral role in students’ learning throughout their

lives. While teachers are responsible for teaching the required material and assigning work to

students, it is also the teacher’s job to determine how best to help the students learn effectively.

For teaching to be most effective, the student should be engaged in the classroom and have an

interest in learning. This shows a clear back and forth relationship between teacher and student.

Both take part in this process of defining the role that the teacher will play in the classroom.

There are many attributes that describe a successful teacher, but a few are vital no matter the age

or subject being taught. Teachers have the responsibility of showing students by being an

example of honesty, holding high expectations for all students, and placing a high sense of

confidence in themselves and in their students.

Showing honesty to students may be a principle easily developed by some, difficult for

others, or just nonexistent for a few. The teacher’s actions in the classroom are of utmost

importance in regards to this. If students cannot trust what their teacher says or that their teacher

will follow through with expectations, the learning process will suffer. Some students learn best

from personal examples and having a role model show honesty to me has taught me how to be

honest in my own life. Educators have seen numerous examples of honesty model in several

facets of their lives whether at home or by watching teachers, coaches, or ministers live out this

practice. In addition, O’Sullivan, a researcher notes how using children’s literature can help to

build students’ character and says, “the practice of character education has changed focus,

changed names, and fallen in and out of favor in schools throughout history.” Current and future

teachers should hope to be one of those examples for their students and help to allow honesty to

go full circle. Select teachers desire and hope to be a teacher that students can trust regardless of

the circumstance.
 Another belief of educators is that it is important that to hold high expectations for all

children. When much is expected, students are challenged and will frequently meet these

expectations. One way for teachers to help their students reach these expectations are by not

only holding them to a certain standard, but encouraging each student’s unique differences and

strengths. One researcher notes (Gershenson, ) that teachers expectations, “might actively

modify their own expectations and, in turn, their behavior to conform to what they believe

teachers expect of them.” (Paragraph 8). It is important for each student to be held to a goal that

is difficult for them to reach, but not unattainable. Holding high expectations is also a way to

earn students’ respect and appreciation later in life. Some of the most effective teachers held

high expectations. This shows students that the teacher cares about each student individually and

wants them to succeed in life as well as the class. Effective teachers celebrate when their classes

meet goals. Teachers also celebrate when they can teach students to set goals that are difficult

but obtainable.

One of the most important attributes a teacher can possess is building up students’ self-

confidence. Like many other attributes, this is best done by example. It is important for teachers

to be self-confident because it will make their students confident in their learning. One research,

(Yazici, 2017) notes that, “It has been stated that this anxiety felt by the teacher is transmitted to

his/her students (Vinson, 2001).” (Paragraph 4). A confident teacher will also promote a

peaceful classroom. Because some students may lack self confidence in their abilities, teachers

must foster this in all members of their class. For some children, their teacher may possibly be

the only role model in their lives that supports them in this way. A layer of confidence that is

presented to the children can stimulate a sense of enthusiasm about learning. Not only does the

self-confidence of a teacher affect a classroom, but it also can have long lasting effects on
students that can be life-changing. Successful educators want to have a classroom where students

encourage one another. Exceptionally enthusiastic teachers want to find each student’s strength

and teach them to focus on how best to help one another.

To be an effective teacher, it is important to be a model of honesty, hold high

expectations for each student, be self-confident in your own abilities as well as advocate self-

confidence in students. It is important to build a level of mutual respect between the teacher and

student. These three attributes will, if practiced, cultivate a level of mutual respect between

teacher and student. I believe teachers are role models for their students and modeling these

attributes will not only help students learn but will also help them in life as well. Some teachers

hope to be an embodiment of these attributes in my life and be an example of how to act.

 Works Cited

Gershenson, S., & Papageorge, N. (2018). THE POWER Of TEACHER EXPECTATIONS:

How racial bias hinders student attainment. Education Next, 18(1), 64+. Retrieved from

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A520581893/PROF?u=tel_a_wscc&sid=73b97d8

O'Sullivan, S. (2004). Books to live by: using children's literature for character education. The

Reading Teacher, 57(7), 640+. Retrieved from

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A115407891/PROF?u=tel_a_wscc&sid=PROF&xid=

d9a3f3cb

Yazici, E., Peker, M., Ertekin, E., & Dilmac, B. (2011). Is there a relationship between pre-

service teachers' mathematical values and their teaching anxieties in

mathematics?/?Existe una relacion entre los valores matematicos de los futuros maestros

y su ansiedad sobre la ensenanza de las matematicas? Electronic Journal of Research in

Educational Psychology, 9(1), 263+. Retrieved from

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A304841977/PROF?u=tel_a_wscc&sid=PROF&xid=

a67c0d6e