If you think that a teacher’s role is just to teach children to read, write and count, then you are totally wrong. Great teachers don’t just teach. There are many hidden roles and responsibilities that they have to do that you might never think of.
These are the hidden roles of teachers that I’ve discovered in a school that I went to during my third School-Based Experience (SBE) as a teacher trainee.
Comedian
Teaching is indeed a serious business, but teachers don’t have to be serious all the time to be effective. In fact, many research had shown that injecting humour in the lesson helps children to focus more. This is very true because when I observed the teachers taught during my (SBE), the students interacted more when the teacher used funny stories and interesting examples to highlight some important points in their lesson. Let’s be honest here, we are all students before, and I believe that we tend to focus more on the funny teachers more than the strict robotic teachers.Motivator
During (SBE), my friends and I were given a task from the school headmaster to give a motivational speech to the students. We were very shocked when we heard it because we only prepared some lesson plans for relief classes before going to the school. That’s when we realised that our job is not only to teach in the class but also to become a Motivator. An unmotivated student will not be able to learn even with the perfect lesson plan. Hence, it is a teacher’s responsibility to motivate their students to improve their learning ability.Cleaner
You might not believe it but teachers (depending on the school) may have to spend some time cleaning the school area and classrooms together with the student. A day before we delivered our speech, we were told to conduct it in a room that I believe is rarely used in the school. As soon as we saw the room, A long and loud sigh came out from our mouth. The room was full of dust particles and rubbish! Without wasting time, we worked together and cleaned the room because the student may not be able to focus and listen to our speech with the mess.Tech-savvy
As teachers, we also have to be technologically competent. Students nowadays are getting more and more advance than before. They are more inclined and interested in technology. It is crucial for teachers to incorporate technology into our lesson to make the students interested. Plus, it’s embarrassing when the students know more about technology than you. You always like to be one step ahead from them [insert laugh].
On the day we delivered our speech, suddenly things did not go as planned. The laptop that we used is not working and the microphone refused to cooperate. Luckily, one of my friends is very good with technology. We managed to fix things right away. If I was alone at that time, I would not know what to do. A slap of reality hit me. I have to learn more about technology.Designer
As a teacher, you are also the designer of your classroom. You have to decorate your class with lively posters, pictures, and decorations to create a positive learning environment. In the school that I went to, the classrooms were nicely decorated by the class teachers. You can really see the efforts they made in making their class conducive.
We were also given task to paint a mural on the ICT building. It was a challenge for me at first because I am not good with arts. However, my team and I managed to work together and came up with an interesting design. From there, I realised that when I become a teacher I have to be creative as I might do the same thing again.
Being a teacher is so much more than standing in front of a class teaching. You have to always be prepared and expect the unexpected. I’m grateful that I had to experience those things while i'm still a teacher trainee as they prepared me to become a better teacher.