ABOUT THE BOOK
Education is the parameter that brings about development to the nation, a major instrument for social change that is propagated by its teachers. Unfortunately, the dignity of this noble profession is gradually dwindling and has ambushed the improvements we desperately need within our educational system. This gap in the education sector is what the transformative book, The Seven Star Teacher by Akin Akinpelu, seeks to address through the Seven modules critically experimented in the book.
SYNOPSIS
The Seven Star Teacher Book is very illustrative and relatable especially between teachers and learners, delving into their day to day relationship. The transformational book is a combination of a textbook and workbook at the end of the chapters which help readers reflect on what they have learnt so far. It also provides solutions to some of the problems or crises that may be encountered by teachers.
THE COMMUNICATOR
The author exposes the effective communication skills every teacher must have in order to have a good relationship with the learners and parents as well. Clearly defining the wrong communicative approach and effective communicative approach and interpretations that can be used towards issues concerning the learners while interacting with their parents or guardians.
As a teacher, there are unique teaching styles used in communicating with different categories of learners and their expected feedback which has been carefully outlined in this Chapter. Some of the categories of learners are auditory learners, logical learners, visual learners, kinesthetic learners, social learners, and solitary learners.
THE VISIONARY TEACHER
A Seven Star Teacher is a visionary teacher who recognizes the gifts and potentials of his students and nurtures them to grow while reinforcing efforts to yield desired success. This is what providing support is about.
The reward is the student’s progress, not perfect test scores or projects, but the changes in attitude and interests.
THE EVER-LEARNING TEACHER
As a teacher, it is important to know you are a facilitator of knowledge, therefore, Continuous learning helps you gain new skills and grow your understanding.
For continuous learning to be effective even as a teacher, there is a need to cultivate five kinds of minds.
- A Disciplined Mind- As a Seven Star Teacher, you must be able to break down the topic you are communicating to the latter by understanding the minds of your learners.
- A Synthesizing Mind- You must have the ability to integrate ideas with the learners as a Seven Star Teacher.
- Creative Mind- The Seven Star Teacher must understand the “Cross-curricular link”, which helps the teacher to receive feedback on how the learner has been able to understand the topic.
- The Respectful Mind- The Seven Star Teacher must understand the capability of the learners by not focusing solely on the learners’ intellectual intelligence.
- The Ethical Mind- Having an ethical mind helps the Seven Star Teacher to improve the quality of life of learners and how to be better in society.
THE MENTOR
The mentored teacher is an experienced and trusted adviser. A person who guides a less experienced person over time. Teachers are role models and mentors. It also explains an effective mentor should be authentic, available, dependable, engaging, and tuned in to the needs of the mentee or protégée. This is not a light responsibility and having responsible adults be active in the lives of children is crucial to the quality of persons they grow to become.
By following the mentoring pyramid, a seven-star teacher will be able to build a good relationship with the learners.
THE LEADING TEACHER
No one is born to be a leader. Good and effective leadership is developed by desire and willpower.
As a leader, you have a predominant leadership style with which you naturally lead. However, as the situation arises, you may need to adopt another leadership style or a blend of styles to work out your vision with your team. But overall, you need to have energy and know how to channel the energy in leadership.
THE COLLABORATOR
The student and teacher work together to choose what a student will learn. The author explains that a teacher should not see him/herself as a boss to the student, instead an effective teacher guides students in selecting goals that are achievable and meaningful. Helping the student to know that they can learn in ways that work for them. This way, a teacher will not have difficulty teaching an unwilling student because the student is already interested in learning. Although personalizing teaching may not be feasible, an effective teacher can create a collaborative environment that can enhance both the teaching and learning process.
As a Collaborator, you can apply various methods to aid students’ learning. Some of them are group-based collaborative learning, communication (asking questions), and using education technology (such as Edmodo, Wallwisher, Prezi etc).
THE ADAPTOR
The 21st-century teacher must be able to adapt to a dynamic teaching experience. Adapting can take many forms including adapting the curriculum structure to teach creatively, adapting to educational tools and software for a variety of age groups and abilities, and adapting teaching and learning styles to be inclusive and cater to the diverse requirements of the students.
A Seven Star Teacher must be able to adapt to different learning curricula by being an abstract thinker and understanding his/her students well, then matching the curriculum with the learning styles, expressions, needs, and abilities of the students in others to be very effective.
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