Characteristics of the Novice Teacher

The first Characteristic of the Novice Teacher I will explore is number two: the novice teacher should be an effective communicator. The big idea of this characteristic is that in order to teach effectively, one must communicate effectively. Communication comes in many different ways; one may communicate verbally, through written text, through body language, and much more. In order to properly educate, the teacher must communicate with not only his or her students, but parents, peers, and co-workers. An artifact that addresses characteristic number two is a letter addressed to parents about expectations and anticipations for the school year. This type of communication is written communication and addresses this characteristic because the educator talks directly to parents without being present. Therefore, the letter must be succinct and professional without confusing the parents. Furthermore, the student will most likely be reading it as well, and so the letter must show that you are interested in their well-being as learners. The communication that exists within the letter must be effective so that the novice teacher can make a difference in the students’ education. The second Characteristic of the Novice Teacher I will focus on is number four: the novice teacher should be a facilitator of learning for all students. The big idea around this is that all students are different. Students come from various cultural backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, and learning abilities. Although all students are different, each student has the right to learn. It is our job, as educators, to optimize the learning experience and environment to facilitate learning for all, no matter what their situation is. In order to be a facilitator, the teacher must recognize student differences and cater to the needs of each individual. One example of the fourth characteristic is creating a lesson plan that offers students choices that cater to individual needs. I have created a tic-tac-toe board lesson/assessment that offers students options like using technology, writing through multimedia, and verbal cues for learning. Furthermore, these activities are designed for student interests. If students can be interested in what they are doing, they will learn. As a future teacher, I anticipate keeping the students’ interests in mind when creating all lessons and creating assessments with choices so that I can facilitate learning for all students.