What keeps you moving? What keeps your flame of teaching burning?
Well, these are the questions I tried to asked myself, as well as my fellow teachers. Indeed, there are a lot of factors that motivate most of us teachers. But what fuels us may not be the case for others. We all have different motivating factors based on Maslow’s Theory of Motivation, and a satisfying factor for the many could be a dissatisfying factor for a few.
Number one on my list is monetary reward. Work allows us to live; many people work to provide food, clothing, housing, and entertainment for themselves and their families.
Teachers are more likely to strive in their work if there is anticipated reward that they value, such as salary increase, bonus, and promotion, rather than if there is none.
Fringe benefits such as Philhealth, SSS, healthcare, PAG-IBIG, tuition discounts to our children, loans, and retirement packages also fit in this category. Providing these benefits motivate many teachers to stay and do well in the organization.
But others may be happy to accept a less competitive pay package in exchange for doing work they love and enjoy.
Equity in a workplace means everyone receives fair treatment. Teachers who are not justly-compensated for their efforts and accomplishments are dissatisfied, but if there is transparency to cause and effect, relatively everyone knows what to expect in terms of consequences and rewards. With this, teachers will work hard because they know they will be fairly compensated without worrying about biases in the system.
Equity also encourages retention. Teachers who are confident they will have a bright future will want to stay, thus, “rolling stone gathers no moss.” Which means that teachers who are always moving to other supposedly better schools are unable to achieve academic advancement or stability in their lives.
Recognition boosts esteem and morale in which teachers feel important, satisfied, and inspired. Recognizing teachers for accomplishments such as submitting grades, lesson guides, test drafts on time, and finishing research projects, can be an important reason for teachers to stay.
Recognizing teachers may be done by just simply tapping one’s shoulder while saying “good job” or “ congratulations” or recognizing them for their good work in meetings in the presence of their peers.
Professional development is providing support and encouragement for teachers to enhance their educational methods, principles, and knowledge through advanced academic study, such as pursuing masters and doctorate degrees.
It means funding for seminars, conferences, research forums and workshops, and chances to develop other training opportunities like in-service trainings, colloquia, and faculty immersion programs.
Professional development also includes dialogues with colleagues, peer mentoring, and peer collaboration for action research which enable teachers to share their ideas honestly.
Technology has become a defining force in our lives; it is also important to support teachers about the use of technology because it offers resources, and provides information that help them grow in their professional skills and interests.
The working environment is the place and the people you work with. It is much more satisfying and less stressful to go to a work environment that is filled with positivity and enjoyment. The better we feel at work, the more likely we will take pride in our activities, and be loyal towards our employment.
Classrooms that are properly ventilated and illuminated improve teachers’ and students’ performance, their health and well-being.
Colleagues with an attitude of approachability, who are available to lend a helping hand, go the extra mile, walk around with a smile, those who are friendly and respectful, able to talk with kindness, can lend an ear to others, and those who don’t easily complain are essential characteristics that could help maintain a positive environment.
If teachers possess these characteristics, surely, it can guarantee the success of the school, and the relationships built among them.
Teacher, what fuels your passion in life?
Floramae T. Sioco
Foundation University
