Sagittarius is a fire element sign ruled by Jupiter, making it curious, ambitious, and knowledgeable. Would these characteristics tend to make them good teachers? Many astrologers believe this to be true. Let’s find out.
On average, Sagittarians have the drive and creative talent to make them excel at teaching. Of the eight traits associated with effective teaching identified by experts, Sagittarius is strong in five and should focus on improving the remaining three to achieve excellence.
Many astrologers recommend teaching as a good profession for Sagittarians. I wanted to investigate whether or not this is good advice using a systematic approach. Keep reading to find out how I did it.
What makes an effective teacher?
Teaching is an important and underappreciated profession. Each teacher brings unique experiences and creative ideas to the profession. My approach to answering the question if Sagittarians would make good teachers was to compare key skills identified in research studies that translate to effective teaching to traits that astrologers associate with the Sagittarius
zodiac sign.
To guide me in this analysis, I used the article Top Qualities and Skills of a Good Teacher, published by Western Governors University, an institution with a strong reputation for excellence in teacher training. The article focuses on 8 indicators of teaching effectiveness that are divided into two categories: Traits of Good Teacher (red) and Skills of a Good Teacher (green).
- A drive for self-improvement
- Patience
- Empathy
- Adaptability
- Strong communication skills
- Ability to suspend biases
- Effective stress management
- Being more than an instructor
I examined each indicator to evaluate the potential for Sagittarius to be an effective teacher and used the following 9-point scale to score them on it.
- 9 excellent
- 7 above average
- 5 average
- 3 below average (needs significant improvement)
- 1 ineffective
It is important to understand that I am making general comparisons and not those specific to any particular individual.
Many factors impact a person’s career choice and still more influence their success. Primary among them is the passion that a person brings to the career and their determination to prosper in it. Astrology can help to identify areas where you might struggle and can provide you tools to face those challenges directly. It can also elucidate areas of character strength in your natal chart. These can help you to address inevitable challenges that you will encounter along your career path.
It is never a good idea to give up on a career choice just because you might face challenges. The truth is that you will encounter barriers to success in ANY career path that you choose. The great thing about Astrology is that it can identify potential challenges in advance so that you can prepare for them.
Traits of a Good Teacher
Western Governors University identifies four traits that consistently appear in great teachers.
Good Teachers Have a Drive for Self-improvement
Those that demonstrate a passion for lifelong learning make the best teachers. This applies not just to your primary subject area, but also to sharing other interests and hobbies that you have. If we want students to mature into well-rounded adults, then it is incumbent upon teachers to model lifelong-learning behaviors.
Sagittarians have a curious and creative mind that is eager to learn. They treasure new knowledge and are constantly soaking up information everywhere they go like a sponge. Combined with a talent for communication and an enthusiastic mindset, I score Sagittarius a 9 on this trait.
If Mercury is weak in the natal chart, the ability of Sagittarius to focus likely will suffer to some degree. They might not enjoy their job as a teacher, viewing it more as a drudgery than an exciting profession. Similarly, the Moon is the most malefic planet for Sagittarius. If it is afflicted in the 10th house, they will experience difficulties dealing with stressful situations. Rahu or Ketu afflicting the 2nd or the 10th houses also could present unique difficulties for Sagittarians in the teaching profession. These, of course, can be overcome with determination and the use of remedies. So they should not be viewed as things that might disqualify a native from being a good teacher.
Although dedication to continued education and a love of learning is a must, this alone is not sufficient to make a person a good teacher. Keep reading as we explore more aspects of great teaching.
Good Teachers are Patient
Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.
Aristotle
Regardless of whether you are teaching primary school children, secondary-level adolescents, or post-secondary university students, your patience will be tested while working as an educator. Patience in a teacher is a must for helping students to face and overcome their unique challenges. Teachers also have to show patience in managing the expectations of parents, who bring their own beliefs about what school should be, along with biases related to their own experiences in school. Patience is one of the most important traits that a teacher can have.
Sagittarius is one of the most impatient zodiac signs. They tend to be restless and want instant gratification. Sagittarius can become irritable and frustrated, if things are not progressing according to plan. I therefore would score Sagittarians a 3 (needing significant improvement) on this category. However, there are plenty of examples of natives that are successful teachers. How can we reconcile this?
Successful teachers learn to manage their impatience.
Impatience means that your emotions are out of sync with the rhythm of reality. For Sagitarians, this usually means that things are not moving fast enough for you. Perhaps a class that you are teaching is struggling to understand a concept that you believe that they should have mastered already. In this case, your impatience would be because your expectations are not in line with the facts. You may believe that you sufficiently explained the concept previously and had concluded that the class understood it. But this is not the present reality. You are experiencing difficulty accepting it and this is causing your emotional reaction. Your challenge as an educator is to abandon your desire to force reality to conform to your expectations and to reflect on how you can find a place in actual reality.
The 4th house relates to inner peace. For Sagittarians, this is Pisces. Any configuration of planets that positively impacts the 4th house, should help to quell your natural tendency toward impatience. Moreover, meditation is the antidote to impatience. Whether it’s chanting mantras or engaging in silent meditation practices, nothing quiets the mind like meditation. While it is impractical to take a meditation break in the middle of a class, the regular practice of meditation can have far-reaching effects beyond those experienced while in a meditative state.
It is clear, that learning patience is a challenge that Sagittarians must accept if they are to become effective teachers.
Good Teachers Have Empathy
Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself.
Mohsin Hamid
It’s vital to ensure students feel that they are in a safe learning environment. Teachers can accomplish this by being sensitive and thoughtful to the needs of their students. Children and adolescents encounter new things and experiences on a daily basis. In the process, they can experience extreme emotional highs and deep lows. What might seem like a trivial matter to an adult may actually be a watershed event for a student. In order to become emotionally mature, students need to have their feelings validated so that they can understand and process them well.
Often overlooked in discussions about teaching empathy is that it probably is the best tool to gain insight into how to best help students with their difficulties in the classroom. Showing empathy engages students on a level that otherwise is not possible.
Sagittarius has a reputation for being self-centered. Is it deserved? Some say yes, while others argue that Sagittarians simply become so immersed in their own interests that they have little energy or time for anything else. In either instance, this does not leave much room for the kind of empathy that teachers need to have to be effective. Therefore, I score Sagittarius a 3 on empathy. However, as is the case with patience, we know that there are effective teachers that are Sagittarians. Let’s dig deeper into this.
Sagittarians know what they want and go after it. They have a hard time understanding that others do not have the same drive that they do. This can cause Sagittarians to disparage others with interests that they do not like or consider irrelevant. They constantly are observing and judging others internally. Although they do not routinely share their opinions about others, they don’t have to. Most people can tell when they are being looked down upon and many dislike the air of superiority that Sagittarians sometimes project.
Although Sagittarians might face challenges when it comes to being empathetic, the good news is that there are many excellent resources available to help them develop in this area. I recommend the article How to Be More Empathetic by Claire Cain Miller.
Studies by neuroscientists indicate that empathy involves two parts of the brain working cooperatively. The limbic system, or emotional center, discerns the feelings of others and the prefrontal cortex or cognitive center tries to understand those feelings and seeks to identify ways to be helpful. Sagittarians excel at the second, or cognitive, part of this equation. In fact, there may be no zodiac sign that is better equipped to gain insight on how to develop creative strategies for reaching obstinate or difficult students. Their emotional intelligence in this regard represents a major strength.
Sagittarians also are known for having big hearts. They are very compassionate toward people in their social circle. Although compassion is an aspect of empathy, the two are not the same. However, Sagittarius natives can use their inclination to be compassionate as a starting point to develop a greater sense of empathy towards students.
Good Teachers Are Adaptable
Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.
Vivien Greene
Effective teachers are able to work in a constantly evolving environment. They keep their finger on the pulse of social trends that are capturing the interest of their students and, when appropriate, adjust their teaching approaches accordingly. Methods that worked well last year might exhibit less favorable outcomes this year. A great teacher has the ability to pinpoint problem areas, make in-course adjustments to their approach, and reevaluate their expectations in order to still find success. Being adaptable is crucial for teachers to be able to help each unique student in their classroom shine and achieve their full potential.
Sagittarius is a dual-modality sign, which makes it very flexible. In fact, Sagittarians prefer the challenges inherent in evolving environments and tend to feel trapped in static or predictable ones. However, too much flexibility in an environment sometimes can cause Sagittarius natives to behave in careless and inconsistent manners. This is because they tend to be transgressors that always are chasing after what they want without concern over the consequences of their actions. They operate under the maxim that it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission. Sometimes this yields positive results and others it does not.
Sagittarius natives tend to consider complaining or whining about changing situations to be a waste of time. Instead, they tend to focus on how they can adapt situations to their greatest benefit or circumvent them entirely. Despite their propensity to be transgressors, Sagittarians are adaptable and I score them 7 (above average) on this aspect of effective teaching.
Skills of a Good Teacher
When it comes to excellence in teaching, there are important interpersonal skills that teachers need to bring to the table or develop. Western Governors University focuses on four.
Good Teachers Have Strong Communication Skills
Good communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity.
Nat Turner
Good communication is a must for teachers. Students experience great anxiety when they do not understand what is expected of them. Good communicators convey what they want clearly and directly with confidence and a friendly attitude. Most important, great teachers do not assume that students have understood them. They take steps to ensure that the desired communication has taken place.
Effective communication doesn’t stop when the teacher is done talking. Active listening is one of the most important skills a teacher can have. Active listening involves focusing your attention on the person that is speaking by engaging with them, asking questions, and rephrasing what they have said. It also encompasses paying attention to the speaker’s facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice. Teachers with strong active listening skills often can discern what isn’t being said, such as any anxieties a student may have and can use this information to help build a student’s confidence levels and skills.
Communication may be the greatest strength of Sagittarius. They have an engaging personality that is warm, welcoming, and optimistic. Their communication style leaves people feeling inspired and supported. Sagittarians have a knack for injecting humor into almost any situation. They always are making people laugh. Engaging students with humor can help them cope with anxiety and fosters building strong relationships. I score Sagittarius a 9 on this category.
On the downside, Sagittarians can get so excited about sharing their experiences and opinions that they can hijack the conversation. Once they get started, it is not easy to get them to stop. In the classroom, this could lead to boredom in some students and anxiety in others, as they are unsure if any of the additional information shared will wind up on a test. However, Sagittarius natives can learn to temper this tendency, as well as develop better listening skills, by remembering to focus on students.
Sagittarians are direct communicators who value honesty and forthrightness. On the surface, these qualities are admirable. However, these natives sometimes lack diplomacy in how they communicate and can be blunt to the point of rudeness. Sagittarians become annoyed by what they consider to be pointless cordialities, such as small talk or approaching an issue indirectly. When they have something to say, they just say it, with little forethought about how others might react to it. When Sagittarius is injecting humor into a conversation, this can be endearing. However, other times it can be inappropriate and unpleasant.
Good Teachers Suspend Their Biases
A teacher cannot make an accurate evaluation of student needs if they fail to identify and suspend their own biases. They need to be able to objectively look at each student to help them. Bias can worm its way into the classroom in subtle and unexpected ways. This not only applies to how we view students, but also how we approach our subject area. Subject biases could prevent us from presenting material correctly and accurately to students.
The most common form of classroom bias is favoritism and students have a highly precise nose for sniffing it out. There are few things that can rupture a safe learning environment more than a teacher showing favoritism toward an individual or group of individuals in the classroom. Teachers must be vigilant in evaluating their own behavior in the classroom so that they can identify and suspend any biases that they may have.
Sagittarians have both strengths and weaknesses in this area and I score them a 5 (average). On the positive side, they genuinely try to treat everyone the same. They don’t play favorites. Sagittarius looks past the outward appearance of people and tries to find goodness in everyone. This means that with Sagittarius, you can always be yourself without worrying about fitting in.
On the negative side, everyone has biases and preferences. To deny this is a bias in and of itself! Sagittarius is no exception. As mentioned previously, they tend to view themselves as intellectually superior to others. This can cause them to look down on people who do not share their ambition or enthusiasm.
What does this mean?
Like most people, Sagittarians tend to gravitate toward people that are more like them and that share their interests. This trait is so common that many do not consider it a bias. But it is these biases that are hidden in plain sight that have a way of infiltrating a classroom and poisoning the learning environment.
Nick Keomahavong, a Theravada Buddhist monk, recommends that teachers keep a journal with a couple of pages dedicated to each student. The goal is to write down positive observations about students. Rather than the spectacular, Nick says that it’s better to focus on things that fall under the category of everyday occurrences. For example, a student might always be at their desk on time. Another student might always be willing to share a sheet of paper with others in need. A student might have an interest in nature; someone else might be enthusiastic about a particular sport. Don’t worry about overlap in things that you observe. You will eventually develop a unique positive profile of each student.
We tend to gloss over positive aspects of peoples’ personalities and instead hyper-focus on things that we do not like. The point of the journal is to achieve a better balance. The positive things identified can turn into compliments and conversation starters.
I notice that your shoes are always clean.
How is it that you always manage to be at your desk on time?
The previous examples obviously are geared toward younger students, but compliments have a positive impact at any age.
As a Sagittarian, you can benefit greatly from this journaling exercise. Students like it when you notice positive things about them and the journal helps you to develop a broader perspective on each person in your class.
Good Teachers Effectively Manage their Stress
Everyone has stress in their life and teachers are no exception. Whether it’s coping with a single disruptive student, an overcrowded classroom, limited resources, unrealistic expectations from parents and community leaders, or demands from superiors, teachers are bombarded with stressful situations on a daily basis. Teachers also have lives outside of the classroom and these can also bring stress into their lives.
Negative stress can prevent teachers from feeling and performing their best. Emotional outbursts can be alienating for students and cause them to lose trust or respect in a teacher. It is vital that teachers learn effective stress-management techniques so that they can be positive role models for their students and create a safe learning environment.
People often are drawn to Sagittarius natives because they tend to be even-tempered. They avoid allowing the stress of their environment to affect their composure. Sagittarians like to stay calm and collected on the outside, even if they are experiencing turmoil on the inside. Rather than react emotionally, they prefer to think through their problems methodically. This level-headedness helps Sagittarius remain calm under stress. It also helps them keep others calm as well.
One area that Sagittarians might have to work on is that their tendency to ponder problems methodically can cause them to overthink even the smallest of situations, leading to internal stress and confusion. Additionally, their focus on minute details can cause them to lose sight of the big picture and result in them focusing on the wrong things.
Notwithstanding this potential drawback, I score Sagittarius a 7 on this category.
Good Teachers are More Than Instructors
Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.
Benjamin Franklin
The best teachers find unique ways to bring the subject material alive to their students. This not only engages and motivates students, it helps to ensure that long-term retention occurs. The technical difference between teaching and instructing is that the former focuses on explaining while the latter on telling. However, it is the result that really distinguishes the two. If after class you realize that you had a unique experience, one that probably could not be replicated by someone else or by simply consulting a reference book, you more than likely were taught. The unique experience can be due to many factors, such as the enthusiasm of the teacher, their style of communication, how they engaged members of the class, how time seemed to pass quickly, and how you left class wanting to know more. Instructors follow a manual. Great teachers create their own manual.
Because they are strong communicators that are creative and engaging, I score Sagittarius a 9 on being a teacher and not an instructor. Their optimism is infectious and they have a unique way of imparting positivity to everyone in the classroom. You will rarely if ever, see a Sagittarian teacher come to class unprepared. They will have thought through the best way to engage students in the material and anticipated potential challenges that they might experience. At the end of class, they will make everyone feel good about the work that they have done.
Would Sagittarians make good teachers?
The combined average score for Sagittarius is 6.5, which translates to them having an above-average potential to be an effective teacher. However, due to their struggle with patience and empathy, along with their passion for intellectual pursuits, Sagittarians probably would be best suited for teaching high school or university students.
It is important to understand that this analysis is based upon general characteristics identified by astrologers that Sagittarians as a group share. It, therefore, applies to what they would bring to the table BEFORE they begin their teacher training. Knowledge and skills that they acquire during training should translate to Sagittarians having the potential to be excellent teachers at any grade level.
Acknowledgements
- Headline photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash
- Woman reading in library photo by Filipe Sabino from Pexels
- Students with a teacher in library photo by Kampus Production from Pexels
- Elementary education photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
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