A mark of a creative educator is self improvement. You can't say you are a creative teacher when you do not improve yourself.
Why should you improve yourself?
1. Self improvement makes you aware of the current trends in the education sector.
If you remain in your own little world, you will remain unaware of where the sector is heading.
2. Self improvement makes you relevant. When you improve yourself, you become a kind of educator on high demand. Other people will want to associate with and learn from you
You will not be asked to resign or be sacked. In fact, your employer wouldn't want you to Leave.
3. Your students will trust you. Students easily recognise a teacher who is confident and has a sound knowledge of the subject matter.
When you keep improving yourself, you become visible to one and all, students inclusive. Students Will happily return to school each day.
4. Improving yourself make you a knowledgeable. You will be able to stand tall anywhere, without fidgeting, and defend what you know to be best practices. I'll give you an instance in my life that has prompted me to improve myself and has continued to.
When I started teaching grade 3 some years ago. I was transferred from nursery 1 to primary 3. I made a conscious effort to improve myself because the students I met in that class had answers to certain questions their friends would ask. They would answer the questions before I get to. It dawned on me that I needed to improve myself.
The benefits are numerous.
Now, should a creative teacher wait to be sent on trainings by the employers?
No is the answer. Some teachers are fortunate to work in schools where the employer occasionally pays for trainings. This doesn't mean that we have to wait until we are sent on these trainings by our employers.
Make it a goal to start improving yourself. You are doing it for yourself and not for your employer.
Start small. Start with the ones you can afford to pay for. Always look out for these trainings and save to attend them.
Check out Facebook and Instagram for adverts of trainings. Please, register for any you think will benefit you.
You might say, I am not paid enough to engage in such trainings. Then avail yourself of the massive open online courses (MOOC).
There are a whole lot of free ones, you only need to search for them.
Besides trainings, associate with other educators who will add value to your life. Learn from them, exchange ideas and do your best to practice what you are learning.
Join Facebook Educational Groups and learn from them.
What other marks of a creative teacher can you think of? Please add them in the comment section of this post.
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