Characteristics of a Professional Teacher
1. Reflects independently to perform ways that support Student learning
2. Recognizes teaching opportunities
3. Shares and model knowledge to the students
4. Demonstrates professional leadership
5. Considers the views of others who have a legitimate stake in a situation
6. Possesses relevant knowledge and ably applies it to Improve a situation
7. Calls up professional knowledge when necessary 8. Assesses the consequences of actions
9. Thrives on challenges of professional practice, getting stronger and better over time
Essential Teacher Competencies (for this role):
1. Organizing a well-managed classroom in terms of time Management, record-keeping, orderliness and
discipline
2. fostering linkages for mutual concerns
3. Undertaking networking activities with organizations for educational, social and civic purposes
Challenges of this role
1. Students fail to accomplish assignments 2
2. . Students’ irregular attendance
3. Poor study habits in school
4. Negative attitudes toward schooling
5. 5. Students’ self-discipline
The Role of a Teacher
The role of a teacher is to use classroom instruction and presentations to help students learn and apply
concepts such as math, English, and science. Teachers prepare lessons, grade papers, manage the
classroom, meet with parents, and work closely with school staff. However, being a teacher is much
more than just executing lesson plans. In today’s world, teaching is a multifaceted profession; teachers
often carry the roles of a surrogate parent, class disciplinarian, mentor, counselor, bookkeeper, role
model, planner, and many other related roles. School teachers play an important role in the
development of students. What students learn in their formative years can shape the men and women
they will become (Bourke, T. Et. Al., 2013)
The Second Parents (Loco Parentis)
According to Lanier (2013), the role of a teacher is clearly more than just planning and executing lesson
plans. In some senses, because the teacher spends so much time with the students, she or he can
become the student’s second parent. Teachers can be a constant positive role model for their students,
particularly for children that lack a solid family foundation.
Of course, the teacher’s role as a semi-parent depends to a large extent on the age and grade of the
children they teach. The kindergarten teacher develops basic skills in her children that are necessary to
excel and progress to the next year, while a teacher in the intermediate grades teaches specific
information about a particular subject.
A Teacher’s Role in Today’s World
Teachers’ roles today are considerably different than they used to be. Teachers were once issued a
specific curriculum to teach, and a set of instructions on how to teach it, using the same methods for all
students. In today’s world, a teacher’s role is quite multifaceted. Their job is to counsel students, help
them learn how to use their knowledge and integrate it into their lives so they will become valuable
members of society. Teachers are encouraged to adapt learning methods to each individual student’s
learning, to challenge and inspire them to learn. (Cox, 2013).
According to Cox, she mentioned that “the modern teaching profession is also about taking on broader
roles to promote education.” She further underscored that teachers often work with politicians,
colleagues, and community members to set clear and obtainable standards for their students;
participate in the decision making that helps to deal with the problems that affect the students’
learning, and mentor new teachers to prepare them to teach the youth of today. Moreover, school
teachers include:
1. Planning lessons that teach specific subjects, such as math, science, and English to be taught
every day. In this actual work of a teacher, it is necessary to prepare a lesson plan every day.
Lesson plans may serve as a blue print or guide in teaching. In order to deliver the lesson in
systematic way, the teacher should provide lesson plans based on the curriculum guide issued
by the Department of Education.
2. Teaching Lessons in whole-group or small-group configurations. As a teacher, you need to
consider the whole group and small-group activities. In the explicit teaching method, you need
to design varied group activities to cater the needs of all the learners.
3. Assessing and evaluating student’s abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. This role of a teacher
plays a very significant impact in the teaching and learning process. At the end of every lesson,
you need to conduct evaluation to identify the number of students who mastered the lessons
For enrichment activities and number of students who dis not master the lessons for remedial
teaching.
4. Preparing students for standardized tests. This role of a teacher nowadays complements with
the learning and teaching process. Every quarter, the teacher should prepare summative test.
Prepare unit test to determine the least mastered competencies.
5. Communicating student progress to parents. Every end of the quarter, the teacher should plan
for Parents Teacher Partnership (PTP) meeting to inform the progress of the learners. In this
way, the parents will be informed about the performance of their children.
6. Developing and enforcing classroom rules. Enforcing classroom rules helps the students to avoid
possible problems. As a teacher, you need to adhere to the classroom rules being agreed among
the students and parents. In enforcing rules, parents should be properly. Informed and properly
monitored by the teachers.
7. Supervising children in extracurricular activities. The teacher should supervise the extra-
curricular activities of the students. Extra-curricular activities of the students play a vital role in
shaping their individual skills. Through extra-curricular, you help the students enrich or develop
their skills and interest.
21st-century classroom needs are very different from the 20th-century ones. In the 21st century
classroom, teachers are facilitators of student learning and creators of productive classroom
environments, in which students can develop the skills they might need at present or in future.
1. The Controller: The teacher is in complete charge of the class, what students do, what
they say and how they say it. The teacher assumes this role when a new language is
being introduced and accurate reproduction and drilling techniques are needed. In this
classroom, the teacher is mostly the center of focus, the teacher may have the gift of
instruction, and can inspire through their own knowledge and expertise, So, does this
role really allow for enough student talk time? Is it really enjoyable for the learners?
There is also a perception that this role could have a lack of variety in its activities.
2. The Prompter: The teacher encourages students to Participate and makes suggestions
about how students may proceed in an activity. The teacher should be helping students
only when necessary. When learners are literally ‘lost for words’, the prompter can
encourage by discreetly nudging students. Students can sometimes lose the thread or
become unsure how To proceed; the prompter in this regard can prompt but always in a
supportive way.
3. The Resource: The teacher is a kind of walking resource center ready to offer help if
needed, or provide learners with whatever language they lack when performing
communicative activities. The teacher must make her/himself available so that learners
can consult her/him when (and only when) it is absolutely necessary. As a resource the
teacher can guide learners to use available resources such as the internet, for
themselves, it certainly isn’t necessary to spoon-feed learners, as this might have the
downside of making learners reliant on the teacher.
4. The Assessor: The teacher assumes this role to see how well Students are performing or
how well they performed. Feedback and correction are organized and carried out. There
are a variety of ways we can grade learners; the role of an assessor gives teachers an
opportunity to correct learners, However, if it is not communicated with sensitivity and
support it could prove counter-productive to a student’s self-esteem and confidence in
learning the target language.
5. The Organizer: Perhaps the most difficult and important role the teacher has to play.
The success of many activities depends on good organization and on the students
knowing exactly what they are to do next. Giving instructions is vital in this role as well
as setting up activities. The organizer can also serve as a demonstrator, this role also
allows a teacher to get involved and engaged with learners. The teacher also serves to
open and neatly close activities and also give content feedback.
6. The Participant: This role improves the atmosphere in the class when the teacher takes part in
an activity. However, the teacher takes a risk of dominating the activity when performing it.
Here the teacher can enliven a class; if a teacher is able to stand back and not become the
center of attention, it can be a great way to interact with learners without being too
overpowering.
7. The Tutor: The teacher acts as a coach when students are involved In project work or self-study.
The teacher provides advice and guidance and helps students clarify ideas and limit tasks. This
role can be a great way to pay individual attention to a student. It can also allow a teacher to
tailor make a course to fit specific student needs. However, it can also lead to a student
becoming too dependent or even too comfortable with one teacher and one method or style of
teaching.
5 Duties and Responsibilities of a Teacher
1. Knowledge of the Subject
. To have expert knowledge of the subject area To pursue relevant opportunities to grow professionally
and keep up-to-date about the current knowledge and research in the subject area
2. Teaching
To plan and prepare appropriately the assigned courses and lectures
To conduct assigned classes at the scheduled times To demonstrate competence in classroom
instruction
To implement the designated curriculum completely and in due time To plan and implement effective
classroom management
Practices To design and implement effective strategies to develop
Self-responsible/independent learners To promote students’ intrinsic motivation by providing
meaningful and progressively challenging learning experiences which include, but are not limited to:
self- exploration, questioning, making choices, setting goals, planning and organizing, implementing,
self-evaluating and demonstrating initiative in tasks and projects
To engage students in active, hands-on, creative problem- based learning
To provide opportunities for students to access and use current technology, resources and information
to solve
Problems To provides opportunities for students to apply and
Practice what is learned To engage students in creative thinking and integrated or
Interdisciplinary learning experiences To build students’ ability to work collaboratively with others
To adapt instruction/support to students’ differences in development, learning styles, strengths and
needs
To vary instructional roles (e.g. instructor, coach facilitator, co-learner, audience) in relation to content
and purpose of instruction and students’ needs To maintain a safe, orderly environment conducive to .
Learning
To comply with requirements for the safety and supervision of students inside and outside the
classroom
3. Assessment
To define and communicate learning expectations to students
To apply appropriate multiple assessment tools and strategies to evaluate and promote the continuous
intellectual development of the students To assign reasonable assignments and homework to
Students as per university rules
To evaluate students’ performances in an objective, fair
And timely manner
To record and report timely the results of quizzes,
Assignments, mid- and final semester exams To use student assessment data to guide changes in
instruction and practice, and to improve student learning
4. Professionalism
. To be punctual and be available in the university during official working hours To comply with policies,
standards, rules, regulations and
Procedures of the university
To prepare and maintain course files . To take precautions to protect university records, equipment,
materials, and facilities
. To participate responsibly in university improvement
Initiatives
To attend and participate in faculty meetings and other assigned meetings and activities according to
university policy
To demonstrate timeliness and attendance for assigned
Responsibilities To work collaboratively with other professionals and staff
To participate in partnerships with other members of the
University’s community to support student learning and university-related activities To demonstrate the
ability to perform teaching or other .
Responsibilities, including good work habits, reliability.
Punctuality and follow-through on commitments
To provide and accept evaluative feedback in a
Professional manner
To create and maintain a positive and safe learning environment To carry out any other related duties
assigned by the
Department chairman
5. Good Behavior
To model honesty, fairness and ethical conduct To model a caring attitude and promote positive inter-
Personal relationships . To model correct use of language, oral and written foster student self-control,
self-discipline and
Responsibility to others
To model and promote empathy, compassion and respect for the gender, ethnic, religious, cultural and
learning diversity of students
To demonstrate skill when managing student behavior. Intervening and resolving discipline problems
To model good social skills, leadership and civic
Responsibility
