While it’s important to help a student learn the basics–math, 2 +2, 3 X 3, and how to spell, read and write–as an educator, you must know one important thing:
You’re setting these students up for the rest of their lives. You’re shaping them to be the next doctors, scientists, artists, architects, engineers, actors and construction workers. It’s easy to fall into the habit of just drilling, you know? You get a kid who needs help with the homework, so you help as best you can. Then comes the tests. Simple. Just getting them through is what you care about, especially when your salary and benefits revolve around the success of these students.
But are you really providing companionship and closeness to these students? Teaching isn’t simply about getting the basics down for their learning. Teaching is about being a ‘mentor,’ being a ‘counselor.’ You have to be a true part of a student’s life, knowing all their bits of personality, knowing their fears, their dreams, their joy. Everything. You’re an integral part of their learning makeup, and life is all about learning. Know their parents, be involved in their extracurricular activities. Be a true memory in that child’s life to the point that when he or she is an adult, he or she still remembers you so well that you’re still there–even when you’re long gone.
The things you teach a student–about life, about learning, about how to treat others, etc etc.–will stick more than any bit of calculus can. So make that your ultimate goal when you’re teaching your 20+ students in a classroom.