For every education-related role I've ever had, professionalism has always been key to successful learning and teaching. During my 2020 and 2021 practicum experiences, I exhibited this trait through diligent attendance, arriving for teaching sessions at least 10-15 minutes early, and engaged participation in meetings. In addition, having had the opportunity to attend multiple professional development sessions and study the official regulations of the Ontario College of Teachers, the Toronto District School Board, Halton District School Board, and the Peel District School Board, I have determined the most important skills always needed within the teaching workplace to facilitate successful education. Below I have highlighted the traits I consider most essential for a professional teacher to exhibit in the school environment and outside of it:
- Expertise and knowledge of their teaching subject(s). Pedagogy is not effective if a teacher has not gained a sufficient understanding of the content they are teaching. A teacher must also be prepared to answer unexpected questions and share teachable moments for unplanned discussions that may take place.
- Punctuality. This trait is important for teachers to exhibit in order to be fully prepared to teach effectively when they come to class inn the morning, and keep all their tasks organized for the rest of the day. It also sets a positive example for the students in a teacher's class as they role model good learning habits for them to learn.
- Remaining organized. It is essential that a teacher has their lessons comprehensively written out and prepared before coming to class to ensure they are prepared to perform the lesson in an engaging and effective way. As a rule, it can be useful to plan lessons 2-3 weeks in advance to prepare for the possibility of circumstances changing in the near future (such as was the circumstance for many teachers worldwide during early 2020).
- A positive and encouraging attitude, prioritizing the Ethical Standards of Care, Respect, Trust, and Integrity in all of one's pedagogy. This means fostering healthy relationships with your students, and taking the time to learn about their life and interests to best serve their educational needs, and provide extra assistance and equity when necessary. I made the effort to learn about my student's interests and lives during my 2020 fall practicum with a grade 6 Social Studies lesson on the Canadian Identity. The lesson required students to write words on a mosaic tile that described different aspects of their identity and who they felt they were as people.
- Adhering to the appropriate boundaries of student-teacher relationships. While teachers have a duty to act in loco parentis when dealing with the physical safety of their students, they themselves must ensure that they do not cross any lines that exploit, abuse, harass or endanger their students. Additionally, teachers must be careful to ensure that they avoid performing any actions that could be perceived as inappropriate. For this reason, it is important to always keep a door open when having a private conversation with a student and avoid touching a student unless absolutely necessary for their physical safety.
- Placing equity at the centre of all pedagogy. Students come from diverse backgrounds and life situations. It is important that teachers remain sensitive to this fact, and make the effort to learn about their students' circumstances. For more information, see Diversity and Equity
- Remain adaptable, and not become "set in one way". As society changes and develops, so do teaching methods. Teachers of today must be committed more than ever to incorporating digital learning technologies into their instruction, especially as the Covid-19 Pandemic has made virtual learning the new normal, and learning digital literacy has become more essential to functioning in our society than ever before. These digital technologies could include online educational games, pre-recorded instructional videos, online bulletins boards such as Google Jamboard and Google Draw, digital slideshows, the breakout room function on the Zoom video conferencing platform, and online learning platforms such as Khan Academy. I made the effort to utilize digital learning tools such as Google Jamboard, and Google Draw in both of the micro-teaching demonstrations I performed during my 2020 Fall Practicum.
- Represent themselves in a manner appropriate of a role model on personal social media platforms. Teachers must be careful to ensure that their online image does not contain content that could be viewed as inappropriate if viewed by students or employers. It is worth setting their personas online to private where possible.
- Prioritize healthy work-life balance and self-care time. A teacher who is overly exhausted and neglectful of their mental and physical wellbeing will not be as effective in the classroom, and will not last in the profession very long. Teachers need to ensure that they keep their goals and expectations realistic, and not over-schedule their plans in a given day.