Home economics teacher skills for your resume and career

Collegiality is the most important soft skill an educator can possess. This is seen in how educators interact with each other and conduct themselves in their schools. Participating in peer teaching consultations objectively and willingly sharing ideas to support new educators shows your dedication to the teaching profession and commitment to mentoring new professionals. Demonstrating flexibility with scheduling and room assignments, sharing materials and space, assisting colleagues, and team teaching when appropriate are examples of collegiality in action. Attending meetings and participating positively and professionally communicates respect for others and the value you place on your peers and supervisor. Leadership skills are essential for navigating parent-teacher conferences and earning the respect of parents. Demonstrating leadership also demonstrates to administration your FCS skills in conflict resolution and financial management. Good communication skills are critical for effective teaching. This relates to our ability to deliver the lesson's content and provide feedback to our students. Teamwork and collaborative problem solving are essential to a functional campus. With collaboration and respectful dialogue, a school can be innovative in resolving challenges. Social and emotional intelligence ensures safety for students and colleagues, promotes a positive learning environment, and provides the foundation for a growth mindset. Finally, cultural awareness is a critical soft skill all educators must achieve. We are required to understand our students to relate to them and effectively educate them across cultures and demographics.

FCS Educators utilize technology in the classroom in a variety of ways. To teach investing, Chromebooks can be used to track changes in the stock market. In the Interior Design area, computer-assisted drawing (CAD) software is used to produce renderings of the built environment. Simulation software is used in teaching family relations, nutrition, and housing. Knowledge of business case development and implementation is needed for those who run catering, culinary, and retail programs in their schools. The food science lab and the apparel/interiors construction lab require knowledge of operating the cooking and sewing equipment and teaching those skills.

Hone your teaching skills! Schools will continue to need substitute teachers and para-professionals. Child care facilitates and after-school programs will still need teachers. And it's likely that many families will be seeking tutors as their children catch up. To gain experience and build your resume, seek opportunities that mirror the work you do as a classroom teacher.

Students need to demonstrate that they are versatile communicators, with strong written and oral communication skills. Students should take full advantage of any public speaking opportunities, such as conference presentations, to demonstrate evidence of this skill. Employers want to hire people who are personable, involved, and have potential leadership qualities. Students should be engaged in campus extracurricular activities, including student clubs, experiential learning events, or community engagements. Research skills, like data collection and analysis, are extremely important and can be applied in a variety of professions. Students should hone these skills through social science research.