Always Remember the Students

One of the most important concepts to remember as a teacher is that you are not focussing on yourself but on your students. Always trying to think of what you can do better as a teacher rather than thinking what the students should be doing.  Although sometimes the students can be wrong and not doing what they should, sometimes it is the teacher that needs to change their ways.
In the article, "Teaching is Not About Us," talks about this exactly.  The author, Professor Joe Martin, talks about how you need to believe what you teach and always practice what you preach (para. 8).  If a teacher does not even know what they are talking about or when being in the same situation, doesn't do what he is teaching, can not be trusted.  Who trusts people who don't even take their own advice?
Professor Joe Martin gives a couple questions that teachers should ask themselves if they feel that they are losing touch with their students that really help to figure out the problem.  One of the questions is "Am I part of the problem or solution?" (Martin para. 11).  This is a great question to start with because a teacher needs to know where to begin.  Should he start with himself or his students, because solving a problem with the students is very different from solving a problem with yourself.
All teachers need to remember how stay connected to their students and always remember why they are teaching.  Not for themselves but for the students.  They need to want the students to learn for the students to want to learn.

Source:
Martin, Professor Joe. "Teaching is Not About Us." New Teaching Begins Here. LDH Technology. Web. 18 Sep. 2012.