How to Develop the Skills You Need to Become a Top Educator

If you have a passion for teaching and seeing children succeed, education may be the right career path for you. You'll need to build a diverse set of skills to set yourself up for success in this demanding and constantly evolving field.

Cultivating Relationships

If you're planning on becoming an educator, taking the Praxis exams and completing your teaching certification are essential parts of your preparation. However, you should also assess your ability to form strong relationships with other people. If students know that their teachers care about their health, safety, and emotional well-being, trust is established and students are able to focus on schoolwork and engage in learning. Educators who show genuine interest and empathy for their students create classrooms that allow students to thrive.

Communication and Conflict Resolution

From students and parents to administrators and other teachers, you'll need to navigate communicating with several different audiences. This calls for a clear and confident speaking voice, concise emails and messages, and being an attentive listener. By honing your communication skills, you'll add another essential tool to your skillset.

Organization and Dedication

Regardless of which career pathway you pursue as an educator, you'll need to prepare to handle different challenges each day. As you manage several classes of students, persistence can bring you through difficult situations, especially for distance learners. It can be helpful to take advantage of Zoom's breakout rooms, Google Classroom's topics or assignments features, and Pear Deck.

Enthusiasm

Last but certainly not least, enthusiasm is contagious. Nothing is more rewarding than knowing your students have learned and retained the material you've taught, but having fun while you do it will keep the class energized.

At the Tulane School of Professional Advancement, students who earn a Master of Arts in Teaching can also earn a teaching certification issued by the Louisiana Department of Education. If you are interested in becoming a teacher, apply to Tulane SoPA today.