Teachers have a tremendous opportunity to improve the self-esteem of their students by conveying respect, focusing on the good qualities and talents of individual students and serving as a constant source of encouragement. Some students may not have other people in their lives who show them respect and encourage them in their day-to-day activities or in their hopes and dreams. Teachers also have the opportunity to identify and focus on the strengths of each student to help build self-confidence and self-esteem.
Many teachers serve as sounding boards to their students on a daily basis. Take for instance a fourth-grade student whose mom is suffering with terminal cancer or whose parents are going through a difficult divorce. It is not uncommon for students to develop a close relationship with teachers, and since they are close confide in the teacher or seek advice about how to deal with a particularly difficult situation. A teacher is an adult who can offer words of encouragement or initiate a referral for more in-depth counseling if necessary.
It is a tremendously rewarding experience to open the eyes of a child to something new in their world. Teachers have that opportunity, or honor, to be able to expose students to new experiences, ideas and ways of thinking. A far greater and further reaching opportunity is the opportunity to awaken within the child a desire to continue intellectual and personal growth so that success in school and in life can become a reality.
Sadly, many students do not have adequate positive adult role models in their lives. Teachers spend a great deal of time with students on a daily basis and have the opportunity to model good character traits in a variety of situations. In many school systems, teachers provide character education instruction. However, modeling those traits via teacher actions, interactions and reactions to day-to-day life can be an even greater instructional tool.