Page 11 - An Ideal Teacher

communicates to the learner that his/her efforts are noticed and worthwhile, and

encourages the learner to transcend his/her limitations. This is in line with Nodding’s

(2010) pedagogy of care.

Collaborates with other educators

Just as all learners have unique learning styles, all educators have unique teaching

styles. Collaboration with other educators opens the mind of the teacher and

introduces her to new ways of approaching content, as well as learners.

Collaboration invites creativity. A creative teacher is ideal because she changes her

teaching methods and makes classes exciting.

Embraces the spirit of Ubuntu in her classroom

Ubuntu (loosely) translates as, ‘a person is a person because of other people’. Ubuntu

means that we are all responsible for each other, must support and encourage each

other, be connected to others, and respect every living being for being alive. This

concept goes from teacher to learner, learner to teacher, learner to learner, and

teacher to teacher.

Is flexible, yet has clear boundaries

An ideal teacher is able to adapt to various situations. She is not rigid in discipline, nor

is she power hungry. Yet, clear limits show the learner that the teacher is an authority