Teachers are one of the most crucial pillars in our society. They identify the vocations of young people by getting to know them and sharing knowledge with them. They work overtime to make sure their students are getting what they need to succeed in life. That’s quite a commission to fulfill.
But we’re going to share a secret with you: teachers are the best travelers! We’ve seen this truth borne out repeatedly, in our 5 decades of taking student groups on educational tours.
So, what makes teachers the best travelers? Let’s find out.
Planning.
A skilled teacher knows that well-structured education lies in the planning. While most of us have our feet up, teachers are planning lessons within an overarching framework of educational goals realized over time.
Teachers have a limited amount of classroom time to get to their educational goals and know how to use that time economically. Planning is key to reaching their goals for students.
Education is a journey. So, when teachers travel, they apply the same principles to their excursion that they do in the classroom. They plan to get the most from every day. They pack for contingencies and do so sparingly.
Curiosity.
Teachers across the K12 spectrum share a key quality – curiosity. They’re not only curious about the world around them. They’re curious about how their students will respond to what they’re teaching. There’s a give and take in teaching in which the instructor is often instructed. This is one of the most exciting aspects of teaching.
That same curiosity is part of what makes teachers the best travelers. They’re as wide-eyed with fascination as their students are. With the pool of knowledge they command, they have the ability to see beneath the surface of things and glean from travel experiences something richer and more valuable.
People skills.
Every successful traveler can interact effortlessly with the people they meet along the way. Teachers are uniquely suited to this key aspect of travel because they’re working with hundreds of students, every year.
Those students turn over, from grade to grade and so, the teacher acclimatizes to new faces and personalities as a way of life.
Travel demands openness. At the same time, savvy travelers assess people and situations honestly and quickly. Teachers do that every day with their students.
They finesse conflicts, settle restlessness and interact with students where they stand. People skills are at the heart of good teaching and they serve teachers when they venture out into the world to travel.
What makes teachers the best travelers? A combination of qualities that creates success in the classroom. Planning, curiosity, and people skills are three of the most uniformly desirable traits in educators.
They’re also three of the most desirable traits in travelers, when you think about it.
Junior Tours – the teacher’s educational tour provider.
At Junior, we work with teachers from all 50 States. Founded by a teacher, we create unique educational tours that work from educator goals. Contact us for an itinerary and quote.