Teachers definitely wear a lot of hats when it comes to the teaching profession. Depending on the situation they're in they can become caretakers, nurturers, advisors or even listeners. I think one of the most valuable skills you can have when you're a teacher is the ability to adapt. This is especially true as you deal with many different groups of people on a daily basis. I learned this firsthand as I watched my mentors talk with students, parents, teachers, and administrators. With students, I learned that you need to have a very bright persona. Children, in general, are very sensitive human beings. They pick up on small details and react accordingly. When I went to visit another classroom, I noticed that the teacher did not open her camera until class officially started. Therefore, minutes before class the classroom was completely silent. I looked around and students were silently waiting for class to begin and just looking around. I did not even talk because it seemed like the atmosphere of the classroom was dreary. This is a complete contrast to my mentor's students. With my mentor, minutes before class she would engage her students in conversation ranging from what they ate for breakfast to what the students interests are; students were laughing and smiling as they answered my mentor. The students noticed that the teacher was having fun, so they too understood that it is okay to have fun and proceeded to do so. This can include other groups of people; with other teachers, parents and administrator you can also extend the same warmth in the hopes of maintaining and developing positive relations.

Keep in mind, you also need to be careful on how you conduct yourself in the classroom. That's why it is best to assess what kind of standard you want to hold yourself to. Do you want to be the kind of teacher who is fair? Fun? Open? You need to properly determine which personality you want to adopt to achieve maximum results. I believe a great teacher is one that is open. Open to new ideas. Open to interaction and open to life. This is not to say that you have to change yourself, but merely amplify the qualities you have now that will equate to you being a great teacher. Because, at the end of the day you're not doing this for yourself, but for the students. They should always be your first priority.