While some are born
teachers, others are taught how to teach. Regardless of the category you fit
in, you can be a better teacher if you observe the seven points listed below:
1. Respect
Your Students
Respect goes a
long way. When you respect your students, they’re more likely to respect you. A
class dynamic of mutual respect is second to none. Classes with mutual
respect allow for more effective learning and teaching. Here are some ideas for
creating a respectful space: learn about their culture, ask them what they need
help with, be open with them about their progress, help them set goals, ask
them about their likes and dislikes and, above all, smile. I do these with my
students all the time, and do you know what? They are always to confident to
tell me anything, whether good or bad.
2. Don’t be
Afraid of Assessments
Assessments
are important and informative. The key here is that we don’t want to go
overboard. There is no such thing as too much assessment, and the way you
approach assessments can make all the difference in your students' attitude
towards them. Good teachers assess their students on a daily basis. Assessment
can be informal or formal. The informal assessments are the ones you witness,
but do not have physical evidence of. Informal assessment is mostly oral in
nature. It includes oral presentations in class, interviews (like a
question-and-answer session) and visual observation. With informal assessments,
you can witness what students are doing in real time to guide the lesson to
where it needs to be to meet your goal. Formal assessments (also known as
pen-and-paper) give us actual evidence as to where students are and help us
inform future instruction. The mid-term test and end of term examination are
examples of formal assessment. And this is what most teachers do.
One trick is
to make assessments an everyday normal part of class. As a teacher, you should
let your students know that assessments are not a big deal, but as their teacher
you need to know where they are so you can see how they're growing and
help them grow further. Without assessments, we are lost as to what
our students need. Once you give a "pre assessment," you can continue to give the
same assessment every few weeks, or months to continue showing progress.
3. Let
Students Teach
They say that
the best way to learn something is to teach it. If your students are not
understanding a particular topic or material, strategically group them, and
allow those that understand to teach those that don’t. This is beneficial for
both groups. Teaching reaffirms what they know and gives them more confidence.
Learning from peers allows them to get instruction in a different perspective
and level.
4. Practice
Self Care
Take care of
yourself outside of class in order to be fit for the next day's tasks. Get
enough rest, drink water, eat your vegetables. All those things that you should
be doing anyway will really go far and give you the energy to be the best
teacher you are capable of being. Don’t underestimate the power of self care.
5. Don’t
Plan Too Much
It’s so easy
to get carried away and plan way too much. We have all done this. In an effort
to teach as many points as possible, you plan way too much and end up rushing
through the entire class. The next thing you know class is over and you’re left
feeling confused about what just happened. Instead of trying to fit every
little thing into one lesson, break up one topic into smaller parts. Teaching
should only be a small part of class. For the most part, you want your class to
have adequate practice time, and instead of teaching, you should become a
“coach.” Unfortunately, most teachers spend the most part of the allocated time
teaching the theoretical aspect of the lesson, paying less attention to the
practical aspect. I think the popular saying, "Practice makes
perfect," should always be your motto.
6. Get Your
Planning System in Check
All teachers
should have a planning system in check for lessons. If you don’t already have a
system, get one! It will organize your life and make your teaching more
intentional and effective.
There are many
ways that you can setup your plans, but you should use whatever is the quickest
and works for you. Some ideas you may want to include are: notes, objectives, language
targets, list of activities, and worksheets.
An important
thing to remember when setting up your planning system is to get a binder (or
organize it in computer folders) to save for the future. Your lessons will
become more developed as the years go by.
7. Redefine
Your Teaching Philosophy
Most teachers
have explored their teaching philosophy at one point or another in their
career. If it’s been awhile since you’ve done this, I suggest you redefine your
philosophy as you may have learnt a bit more about your personal teaching style
in the time since you last defined your philosophy. To some, this may seem like
a minor detail, but it can actually be quite helpful. Knowing and understanding
your teaching philosophy will help inform how you conduct your class. Also, if
anyone ever asks, you will be confident in your answer. If you’re having
trouble getting started, you can simply search for “how to write a teaching
philosophy” or “teaching philosophy statement examples” on Google to find some
information on the internet. Also, you can write a general philosophy on your
teaching practices as well as philosophies on planning, student growth,
management, homework, attendance, etc.
In sum,
teaching is the most important profession of all the professions in the world
because teachers are builders of lives. They make the doctors, lawyers,
engineers, accountants, linguists, architects, etc. Therefore, never hesitate
to give your students your best (if you are a teacher) regardless of the pay.
Source: The Teaching Revolution
