Letting go of your ego is the first step to real growth as a teacher. The more you reflect, seek advice, and learn from your mistakes, the better you’ll become-not just for your students, but for yourself.
Your ego is the first thing you should let go of before instructing any class. If you look back and reflect objectively, you will notice how much you have grown as a teacher over time—whether in your planning, ability to connect with students, or conflict resolution skills. That is why it is critical to remember that, while you may be a better teacher today than you were yesterday, you are still a worse teacher than you will be tomorrow—especially if you are reading this, which indicates that you genuinely want to improve as an educator.
Accept External Advice.
Do not be afraid to seek advice from outside sources, such as teachers in other subjects or even family and friends. There’s always something valuable to gain from their perspectives. Don’t worry about making mistakes, because everyone has had bad lessons that they’re not proud of. Instead, reflect on what went wrong and look for ways to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
Learn from Mistakes
I myself have made many mistakes over time, some of which I’ve managed to fix, and others I’m still working on. For instance, I used to spend too little time on the final reflection of a lesson, but I changed that, and it has undoubtedly improved the quality of my classes.
Acknowledge Your Errors
One of the best ways to combat your ego and evolve as a teacher is by acknowledging your mistakes. Just as many lessons can go wrong due to external factors or the attitude of certain students, teachers can make mistakes too. Recognizing your mistakes, even in front of your students, is always a step forward in the journey of self-improvement.
