Excellent Teacher Traits: Having a Positive Mental Attitude

You can celebrate life and learning with a positive mental attitude, either as a teacher or as a student. Look back at your own teachers, for a moment. Which ones do you remember the most? Are they the ones who were positive in their mental attitude towards teaching and learning, as well as life or those who were not?  

The teachers, who had excellent teacher personality traits, the ones who influenced you over the years, were likely the ones who demonstrated a consistent, positive, mental attitude. You may recall one or two teachers who were consistently negative in their mental attitude, but some of your teachers were probably mediocre in terms of their mental attitude towards teaching and learning, as well as towards life, being neither positive nor negative in their outlook. By now, you have likely forgotten most of them, as well as what they tried to teach you.

What is attitude?

Dictionary.com defines attitude as a “manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc., with regard to a person or thing; tendency or orientation.”

Some teachers always seem to have a positive, constructive attitude about everything, as it appears to be a part of their personalities. Other teachers may not feel or act positive in terms of their lives, positions, job descriptions, etc. At times, it can be difficult to convey a positive attitude, especially when it comes to teaching something that may not interest them. Noticeable, positive changes in the student’s learning experience, as well as their lives, can take place when teachers teach in a positive light. 

Winston Churchill wrote, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”   

The positive mental attitude of a teacher often results in students thriving, rather than merely surviving. A consistent, positive attitude, as an excellent teacher trait, becomes evident in the teacher’s level of success. Teachers who maintain consistent, positive, mental attitudes succeed because they are able to enhance the learning curve of their students, while others who are less positive, may not.  

Attitude is everything.

Having a positive, mental attitude about life in general, including teaching and learning regardless of what a teacher is teaching, can make all the difference in the world. It leads students towards a higher level of interest, inspiration and motivation. The positive influence in their lives can cause them to become dynamic and proactive.  

Attitude is a matter of choice.

Teachers can choose to have a negative or positive attitude, although much of what is reflected in their attitude is a part of their innate personalities, in conjunction with their upbringing and environment. Any teacher can say no to a negative attitude, consciously or unconsciously, and replace it with a positive attitude. It is not always easy though and positive reinforcement from other teachers proves mutually beneficial.    

Attitude is highly contagious.

When a teacher maintains a positive attitude, that same kind of positive attitude becomes part of the experience of his or her students. They in turn, reflect it to others, often to other teachers, too. It is like sending a smile around a corner. A positive attitude often comes back and may be magnified a hundred fold, by the time it returns. It makes everyone happier and enhances the learning environment.

Attitude is effective in terms of teaching and learning.

Teaching a positive attitude towards things makes them appear desirable in terms of further exploration and leads to more advanced learning by students. Students do not usually desire or seek to learn things that their teachers project to them in a negative light. In fact, they may try to avoid learning and focus on what appears more positive to them. A positive attitude is far more effective in terms of teaching and learning.

Note that while a rebelling student may relate to a teacher with a negative attitude, one with a positive attitude may change the life of that same student, for the better.   

Attitude reflects a state of health.

Teachers and students with a positive attitude reflect a state of good mental health. Consistently maintaining a positive attitude helps to ensure it. Slipping into a negative attitude, often leads to discouragement, depression and frustration for teachers, as well as for students. 

Teachers and students know the merit of a positive attitude. It is like saying yes instead of no to teaching and learning, as well as to life, celebrating them enthusiastically, as each teacher and student should be able to do.