Although there are different schools of thought on the subject, teaching can be arguably one of the most rewarding, yet most challenging, careers out there. If you are an educator, keeping your career in perspective can be difficult, as can infusing your students with the desire to learn. The tips that follow can help you get the school year off to a great start, or help you make the most of what is left of this academic year.
Tip #1 Be Flexible, But Be Prepared
The most highly effective teachers prepare their lesson plans well in advance, they know their subjects well and have the supplies that they need to teach on hand and ready. But these teachers are also flexible, and they do not sacrifice true learning for a time line of when the learning will take place. You can improve your student's comprehension of the material that you are presenting by not worrying so much about staying on schedule. Having students that are genuinely enthralled in looking at a topic in a more in-depth manner can be a great motivator for you as an educator, and taking the time to offer extra help when students need it is important. So think of your lesson plans as more of a guideline than a strict schedule that must be adhered to at all costs.
Tip #2 Be Kind
Being kind and warm is important, especially when working with younger children. A nurturing teacher is usually a well-loved and respected one, so always temper your behavior with the mental and emotional maturity of your students in mind. Smiling and making eye contact are a great way to start the day off right, even when you feel like an old grump.
Tip #3 Stick to the Rules
Kids need structure, tempered with kindness. For this reason, it is ultimately necessary for you to establish your own set of classroom rules for your students and to stick to them consistently. Rules give kids an exact outline of what is expected from them, and letting them know the rules the first day of school is ideal. In addition to giving your students a handout of your classroom rules, be sure to post them conspicuously in the classroom, and invite the students to discuss any rules that they don't understand. Keep your rules simple and understandable, and make sure that the rules are age appropriate. Remember, you're not writing a conduct guide for the FBI, just for your sixth grade (or first grade, or third grade, and so on) classroom.
Tip #4 Be Prepared for Bad Apples
It would make every educator's job easier if there were no 'bad apples' in the bunch, but that is seldom the case. Plan on having a few disciplinary problems within the classroom, and have a plan in place on how to deal with disciplinary issues as they arise. Make sure that your students know how you will deal with bad behavior or other problems. Some of your actions will, of course, be dictated by protocol that is established by your school, but the tactics that you use in your classroom before a problem gets out of hand should be well-known upfront to the students.
Tip #5 Be Enthusiastic
Remember the show "The Wonder Years"? The science teacher in that series talked in a monotone voice that would almost put his students to sleep before his eyes. Teachers find that being enthusiastic about the material being presented is often the easiest route to engaging their students in the subject. Even for topics that you personally find a total bore, find a fun angle that induces excitement and you'll see your students jump on the bandwagon with you. This is sort of akin to making lemonade when life gives you lemons. A happy, enthusiastic presentation is more memorable to your students than a ho-hum, basic lecture on the material.
Jenifer Dobson
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5 Tips to Have the Best School Year Ever
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