Authenticity

My dad always says, the best teachers are the ones that just act themselves. My dad has been a high school choir director for over 20 years. After years of trying to understand what high school kids want in a teacher, my dad decided the best option for him was to act like himself. When something is authentic, it is simply itself.

When a teacher promotes authenticity in the classroom the students will take everything the teacher says more seriously. Students are able to tell quite easily whether a teacher is authentic or not. When a teacher is authentic, they are genuine with their students. An example of a genuine teacher is one who admits they make mistakes. If a student asks a question they aren't sure about, they have no problem saying they don't know the answer. Being trustworthy is another characteristic of an authentic teacher. If a student is able to trust a teacher, then more can be done in the classroom.

When a teacher is not authentic, the students will not take the teacher seriously. They will not trust the teacher's instruction or knowledge. Authenticity is an important part of being a good educator. Authentic teachers show students they care and further their relationships with students.