Teaching Roles & Responsibilities
Your main role as a teacher will be to manage and facilitate the learning process. This will be by teaching your subject in a way which actively involves and engages your learners. This might be in the workplace, in a college, or another training or educational environment. However, it’s not just about the teaching, it’s about the learning that takes place as a result. You can teach as much as you wish, but if learning is not taking place then your teaching has not been successful
Teaching Responsibilities
Being a teacher is an incredibly rewarding and challenging profession. As a teacher, it is essential to understand the responsibilities and obligations that come with the role, including the educational legislation that you must abide by.
The primary role of a teacher is to help students achieve their educational goals and facilitate their learning. This includes designing and delivering high-quality lessons, assessing student progress, and providing feedback and support to help students improve their performance. Teachers are also responsible for creating a positive learning environment that is safe, inclusive, and respectful of all students.
To ensure that they fulfill their responsibilities effectively, teachers must have a solid understanding of the subject matter and tailor their lessons to the needs and abilities of their students. They must also utilize a range of teaching strategies and techniques to engage and motivate students and foster their learning. It is also essential that teachers use evidence-based practices that have been shown to enhance student learning, as emphasized by Hattie and Yates (2014).
One of the most critical responsibilities of a teacher is to assess student progress and provide feedback. This includes assigning and grading assignments, tests, and exams, and giving written feedback to students on their performance. Effective feedback can be a powerful tool to improve student performance, and it should be timely, specific, and actionable, as noted by Black and Wiliam (1998).
As a teacher, it is also essential to be aware of and sensitive to the needs and backgrounds of your students. Teachers must ensure that the classroom is a welcoming and supportive space for everyone, and they must promote a positive learning environment that can promote student engagement, motivation, and academic success, as reported by Kaur (2020).
In addition to teaching and assessing student progress, teachers must also maintain accurate records and report on student progress to parents and other stakeholders. This involves writing reports, attending parent-teacher meetings, and collaborating with other professionals, such as learning support staff and external agencies, to provide appropriate support and interventions for students with additional needs.
Moreover, teachers must comply with relevant educational legislation, including child protection laws, health and safety regulations, and equal opportunities laws. The Education Act 1996 is the primary legislation governing education in England and Wales. It outlines the rights and responsibilities of parents, schools, and local authorities and sets out the legal requirements for the provision of education to children of compulsory school age.
Teachers must also adhere to the Teachers’ Standards, which set out the expectations for their professional conduct and practice. These standards cover areas such as maintaining high standards of behavior and discipline, promoting the welfare of students, and working collaboratively with colleagues to improve teaching and learning.
In conclusion, being a teacher is a significant responsibility that requires a range of skills and competencies. Effective teaching requires a deep understanding of subject matter, evidence-based instructional practices, assessment and feedback strategies, and creating a positive learning environment. Teachers must also comply with relevant educational legislation and adhere to professional standards to promote student learning, achievement, and well-being.
Further resources
Academic Articles:
- Hattie, J. A., & Yates, G. C. (2014). Visible learning and the science of how we learn. Routledge.
- Black, P., & Wiliam, D. (1998). Inside the black box: Raising standards through classroom assessment. Phi Delta Kappan, 80(2), 139-148.
- Kaur, K. (2020). Creating positive learning environment in the classroom. International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews (IJRAR), 7(2), 165-168.
Online Articles:
- The Education Act 1996. (n.d.). UK Government. Retrieved from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/56/contents
- Department for Education. (2011). Teachers’ Standards. UK Government. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teachers-standards
- Johnson, B. (2021). What are the roles and responsibilities of a teacher? [Blog post]. Top Hat. Retrieved from https://tophat.com/blog/roles-and-responsibilities-of-a-teacher/
Videos:
- TEDx Talks. (2015, September 22). Teachers create leaders [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R_9kE5Jb7A
- Harvard Graduate School of Education. (2018, March 27). Teachers as leaders: Empowering educators to take charge of their learning [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztibw4FBHn0
- Edutopia. (2018, August 1). What are the roles of a teacher? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bU6gyc9GOM
