Effective Teaching Methods

If you want to know about the effective teaching methods that can help you to better understand and interact with your students, read this article.

Teaching is that profession where the success of the teachers of the teacher depends on the ability of the students but there have been such teachers who have made even the worst of students the best of learners. So it is evident the understanding of a subject taught by a teacher depends on the methods of teaching adopted by that teacher. Methods make the material easier to comprehend and assimilate. A teacher would only pay attention towards his methods only when he is completely dedicated towards his profession and if his profession is his passion. There are some effective teaching methods that a teacher if and when follows would get better results from his students in terms of comprehension and reproduction of that topic on pen and paper which we will discuss in this article.

Some Effective Teaching Methods

The effective methods of teaching that do yield results are as follows:

• It is important that the teacher sets goals for himself or herself and also for his or her students so that they aim and work towards that goal and when they fail to achieve to that goal the target they realize it before it is too late and work upon it.
• It is important that the teacher underlines the key concepts of a lesson or chapter so that the students learn to identify the main ideas that they need to understand and sieve the study material.
• It is important that the teacher establishes an interactive environment in the classroom so that the students can speak out and the teacher can also understand which concepts have been studied and understood well and which have not been.
• It is always better to give the students a little of the background of the topic that you are teaching so that they have better understanding.
• It is also advisable to revise the topic that you did in the previous class since revision makes things easier to remember and recollect.
• To make things easier and less time taking you can adopt the method the Questioning to revise the previously done things so that you can also assess their understanding.
• When teaching small kids it is better to take help of visual aids since pictures and images register in the kind better than words and lessons. So if you are trying to put in facts about a tiger it is better to teach the picture of a tiger and then tell the kids about it. For subjects like geography, physics and chemistry, show the kids things that you are teaching as far as possible. Take help of maps and pictures so that the knowledge that you are imparting does not seem vague for the students.
• After you are done with a certain topic divide the class into several groups where in each group there should be a mix of good and average students and grade them on team performance so that the average students copes up with the difficulties with the help of the better student.
• Besides all the classroom studies it is imperative to concentrate on the talent that the student has beyond classroom studies. There are some students who cannot assimilate the routine and inhibited classroom academics but on the other hand they respond well to experiments and demonstration.

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Studying Poetry in the Classroom

 Many teachers of literature don’t like teaching poetry in the classroom, but if you add in some fun activities, the students will end up really liking the unit.

More often than not, if you ask literature teachers how they feel about poetry, they will tell you that they don’t like teaching it because the students don’t like learning about it. While it is true that many students balk at the mention of poetry, this is usually because the teachers try to teach it just like a book, without explaining things like word choice, form, or even what is going on in the poem. Adding some fun activities to a unit on poetry can really help students come up with their own understanding of poetry, and then they can bring that personal connection to the poems you read in class.

Teaching the Form

One of the most important things to teach when you are teaching poetry is about the form of the poem you are reading. Even free verse poems that seemingly lack a form have an art to them. Poetry is different from prose in that there are lines, and when the poet writes a poem, he or she pays careful attention to those lines. Very often, important phrases end at the line, or poets include important words at the end of the line. This can help draw attention to the words and phrases that are used in the poem, and can help illuminate the meaning of the poem.

Most Important Word

By asking students what they think the most important word in the poem is, you are asking them to think about the poet’s word choice. This is actually a very difficult question for students to answer because usually they want to choose a whole phrase. By asking them to pick one word, you are forcing them to look at the whole poem through a critical eye. If they are stuck and need help, you can always give them hints. Important words can be repeated over and over within the poem. Repetition is always a signal of an important word. Other important words can embody the entire theme or message of the poem, or can be a word that the students like the sound or meaning of. Most importantly, remind the students that, as long as they can explain their choice, there are no wrong answers.

Coffeehouse Readings

Always read poetry aloud in class. This can help students understand the poem better. Poetry was also meant to be read aloud. You can make this fun, too, by setting up your classroom like a coffeehouse poetry reading. Have the students snap their fingers after each reading, instead of clapping their hands. Add some lamps to create a coffeehouse feel when the lights are turned off, and put a fake microphone at the front of the room for students to stand up and read into. This will get the students listening and enjoying poetry just for the sound of it, which can lead to really great discussions about the content and how the poem was read.

Found Poems

Found poems are a great way to have students dive into writing their own poetry. For some students, writing a poem can be daunting if anything goes. With found poems, have the students "find" words and phrases in magazines and newspapers. Have them cut out what they find and glue it on a piece of paper in the form of a poem. By giving students something to start with - in this case, words already printed in a magazine - you’ve taken away the fear of creating and sharing something new and personal. 

 

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Classroom Discipline Strategies

If you are a new teacher, then maintaining the decorum of your class can be one of the many challenges you are likely to face. Classroom discipline strategies given in this article can help you out.

Discipline is one of the essential virtues in human life. The seeds of discipline are sown in early childhood itself. Schools play a vital role in inculcating the importance of discipline in young children. If you are a new teacher about to join school, then you must be equipped with solid classroom discipline strategies, that will enable you to manage your class. Classroom discipline management is one aspect of teaching, you will have to master as early as possible. Given below are some strategies for classroom discipline that will help you.

Classroom Discipline Strategies and Tips

Start Early
One of the most important classroom management strategies that new teachers should remember is, to make an impression upon your students at the very beginning. The kids intently judge your every move during the first few minutes and decide what kind of a teacher you would make. You should not reveal any weaknesses, else the kids will know what they can get away with. Hence, let your body language indicate that you are not the teacher to mess around with. Having said that, I do not mean that you should be harsh upon kids. Be friendly, approachable, yet strict.

Be Specific
Many a time, conflict arises because the students are not able to decipher the instructions of the teacher. Use of difficult-to-understand terms, ambiguous instructions can all lead to indiscipline, that too for no fault of students. Young children especially find it very hard to follow instructions that are given in a complex language. Giving clear and precise instructions is one of the most effective classroom management techniques.

Be Consistent
Building classroom discipline plan and sticking to it is very important to ensure peace in the class. Be specific about the kind of behavior you expect from kids. Make it clear to them, that you won't tolerate any misbehavior in your class. If you ignore misbehaving kids one day and jump at the slightest hint of indiscipline the next day, you will leave your kids confused. Hence, it is important to be consistent with your classroom management strategy everyday.

Keep the Interruptions Minimum
The main aim of kids who interrupt the class is to bring about disruption and halt the teaching process. These kids are least interested in the lesson and somehow want to divert the attention of the class. They may resort to talking amongst themselves or making fun of other kids. If you entertain these kids, it would actually encourage them, because that is all what they want. Hence, as far as possible ignore such kids. If the talking becomes really disruptive, ask a question to one of them to retain the continuity. Entertaining such interruptions would lead to loss of precious teaching time for kids who really wish to learn.

Add a Hint of Humor
Humor resolves even the trickiest of all situations. A good laugh can instantly ease the tension between teacher and students. However, do not mistake humor with sarcasm, unless you want to spoil your relationship with your kids. Also, do not embarrass or humiliate your students under the name of humor.

Treat Everyone with Equality
Fairness is the key to classroom management and discipline. As a teacher, you might have your own favorites amongst your students. However, do not reveal your true feelings while you are in class. Treat all your students with utmost equality, even those who are amongst your least favorites. Kids are smart enough to identify if you really like them or not. Hence, do not make your preferences obvious in front of the class.

Start Afresh
This does not mean that you come up with a new classroom management plan everyday. It simply means that do not carry grudges of the previous day with you the next day. Just because some kids misbehaved in your class the previous day, it is not fair to assume that they will disrupt you the next day as well. Do not have any preconceived notions about the class's behavior and start each day with a hope that the class will behave decently.

Once you plan your classroom discipline strategies and implement them correctly during the first few weeks, you will have little problem with class discipline in future. As an established teacher, your efforts to maintain decorum in the class will reduce with each passing year. 

 

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Classroom Management Techniques

Classroom management techniques are of vital importance for the teachers who are looking for ways to tackle the chaos and indiscipline in their classes, in order to create the right atmosphere for education and learning. Find out some simple and effective classroom management techniques with this article...

Classroom management has always been a tricky subject, and while some teachers seem to easily master this art with their effective teaching strategies, others have been observed to struggle even after several years of experience. So, a number of teachers are constantly in search of the effective classroom management techniques in order to control the chaos and instill discipline in the classroom. Here are some tips for classroom management.

Classroom Management Techniques

It is always better to generate some proper classroom management methods in advance to maintain order and discipline in the classroom. These methods or strategies should incorporate everything from rules, code of conduct or behavior, enforcement of discipline, etc. Here are some important points, that if included in your classroom management strategies, would be of great help to create the right atmosphere for learning.

Classroom Rules
The first step for controlling a classroom of unruly students is to make some concrete rules. While making these rules, take into account the age of your students. The rules of your classroom should be in conformity with the general rules of the school. You cannot make rules that contradict the already established rules and regulations of the school. Do not make too many rules, which your students won't be able to follow. Make a few basic rules that are sufficient to maintain order in the class. Explain your expectations to the students and also ask them what they expect from you. This will promote their active participation in the classroom management plan. Be consistent in following these rules, as this will set a good example. Otherwise students would not respect you and gradually lose interest in your class. The rules to be followed should be explained to the students properly so that they do not have any doubt regarding them.

Enforce Discipline
Discipline is the key to run any institution, whether it is a school, government office, or business enterprise. Though punishments are essential for maintaining discipline, they should not be too harsh. Punishment should always be according to the nature of the crime. A teacher should never embarrass a student in front of his or her peers for violating any rule or disrupting the class. It would make the student more unruly and violent. If a student is really stubborn and not following the rules, then talk to him in private to know the exact reason behind his behavior. Avoid confrontation in the classroom. A teacher has to be very calm and patient while handling such cases of indiscipline and disobedience. Sometimes, an award system can work wonders in implementing rules and regulations. An award system encourages the students to follow the rules and behave in the right manner.

Be Fair
An ideal teacher should always be fair to all students. Students can easily sense if a teacher becomes partial to any particular student. So you have to treat every student equitably, especially regarding the rules and punishment. Even if the most brilliant student of the class violates the standard rules, he should get the same punishment like others. Otherwise, students would lose all interest in your classroom rules and discipline plan.

Involve the Parents
Parental involvement can help teachers a lot in understanding their students and manage them accordingly. Try to win over the confidence of the parents, and they would help you a lot in instilling values and good behavior in your students. It's not that you need to contact the parents only in a troubled situation. You can also keep them informed about their child's improvement in studies and suggest some techniques in order to help them to enhance their child's learning skills. This would help you to get their trust and confidence, so that whenever trouble pops up, you can easily discuss it with them.

These are some of the basic classroom management techniques to ensure order and discipline in a classroom. You can also learn many more classroom management strategies and techniques from your experienced colleagues and friends. But what is important is to pick up the right ones that would help you to manage your classroom without being harsh on the students. While enforcing all these rules and regulations, do not forget to give attention to your teaching skills. Try to make the class as interesting as possible in order to keep the students engrossed in the subject, and it would also go a long way in correcting their behavior and conduct in the classroom. 

 

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Positive Reinforcement in the Classroom

Positive reinforcement in the classroom is very essential to improve the overall behavior of the students. Read this article to know the concept of positive reinforcement in the classroom in detail.

It is a widely accepted fact that the behavior of the children is influenced by the environment in which they are brought up. This is true especially in the phase of life when one is a student. Almost all children are known to spend at least six hours in school and so their personality gets shaped as per the lessons learned in the school. We can definitely say that the teachers in schools shoulder a very big responsibility of teaching the children basic values which are as important as the academic lessons. Positive reinforcement for children is a way of motivating them by appreciating their good qualities. Now, let us know how to use positive reinforcement in the classroom and the effectiveness of positive reinforcement in the succeeding paragraphs.

Importance of Positive Reinforcement in the Classroom

The main motive behind using positive reinforcement in the classroom is to encourage the students to repeat the acts done by them, which are good and would prove useful for them and for the class. The students will feel encouraged to repeat their acts only if they receive appreciation for them. However, while appreciating, need to that teachers follow certain rules which will result in the advantage of the entire class and not a certain group of students. All students who perform well should be appreciated without any bias. If a particular student answers a question correctly, it would be advisable that you appreciate him individually by taking his name, so that he feels motivated. In the positive reinforcement, the students are made aware of the good or bad consequences of their actions.

By the effective use of positive reinforcement in the classroom, you can make the students aware of their strengths and suggest them ways of using those strengths to the fullest to succeed in the tasks allotted to them. By doing this, the students would be able to eliminate the negative aspects of their personality, step by step.

While using positive reinforcement in the classroom, the teachers should note that the positive reinforcement is given on time. It is very essential to praise the efforts and the hard work of the students immediately after their success. The reason behind this is that the psychological impact of immediate appreciation will be more than delayed appreciation. Positive reinforcement in the classroom in the form of awards and gifts, can at times, be more effective than the oral ways of appreciation. Sometimes material rewards which the students always wished to possess can increase the enthusiasm and energy in them to perform better at every outing. The positive reinforcement in the classroom can help to maintain the discipline and decorum by changing the personality of each student.

Positive reinforcement has a clear advantage over punishment in many ways. It has been observed in many cases that though punishment helps to improve the habits and behavior patterns of many children, this is not true in the case of each and every child. Punishment, sometimes can have an opposite effect on the students as they may become rebellious and even more aggressive. Even if punishment succeeds in improving the way of thinking of the students, this change can be temporary and may not last too long. With the help of positive reinforcement, the values which are taught in the classroom will stay with the children throughout their lives.

Thus we conclude that positive reinforcement in the classroom is a must in the modern-day education system. By employing these methods, the teachers will be able to make the students, great visionaries when they grow up. 

 

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Classroom Management Strategies

Classroom management is one of the most important aspects for the teaching faculty. Here are some classroom management strategies which will help you to effectively curb the indiscipline in the classroom and create an environment ideal for learning.

Classroom management refers to issues related to supervising a classroom and academic discipline. The behavior of students in a classroom can vary from person to person. Some cases may not requiring any intervention, while others may require strict action on disciplinary grounds. Instances of rudeness towards the faculty by the students are on rise, and in such a situation the onus is on the teachers to make sure that the class is well behaved. Though a difficult task, effective classroom management strategies can make the work relatively easier for the teachers.

Strategies for Classroom Management
First of all the teacher has to understand that the students in the class come from different walks of life. They have different problems of their own, some deal with them while some can't. Stress and conflicts are prominent in the life of students as well. Though they come to school to learn, they have a list of activities in their mind which, according to them, are much more exciting than sitting for a forty-five minute period in the class. It's important that the teacher makes this forty-five minute class exciting, so that the students can learn, and at the same time have fun.

Make the Class Interesting
A forty-five minute period, wherein a teacher just speaks and students only hear, is not at all exciting. It's important that the students themselves participate in the process, thus making the period an interactive session instead of a dull lecture. Your classroom management strategies should also include effective teaching strategies, which would keep the students glued to the topic. As a teacher you can plan a few activities in the classroom, which will make children get up from their seat and interact with teachers as well as fellow students. Don't forget that the students have a lot of pent up energy, which has to be released. Avoid taking the class for full forty-five minutes, you can ensure that the last 10 minutes of the class time are spent in discussions.

Talk to the Students
Talk with the students, not just in the classroom or school, but outside as well. Whenever you come across any student in the cafeteria or in your neighborhood grocery store, greet them. If any student has excelled in a particular sport or event, appreciate him or her. Praise their sincere efforts and tell them how they should go on with it. This will make the students feel that you are close to them and you understand them, the result of which will be obviously seen in the classroom.

Dealing with Disruptive Behavior
Students tend to be naughty, and at times this naughty behavior on their part can disrupt the momentum of the entire class. In such a situation, if you try to yell at them on the top of your voice, you will yourself disturb other students. A wiser thing to do at such a point of time is to just go and stand near that particular students desk. This will automatically send him a signal that you want him to stop whatever he is doing, and pay attention to you. Most often this works in your favor, and if it doesn't, you can either take the student outside the class or talk to him after the class is over. Confronting him in front of the entire class will be a bit humiliating and make him more defiant. While talking to him after the class will make him feel that you understand him and he will blurt out his feelings. If both of these classroom management plans to deal with disruptive behavior fail to yield results, you should promptly send the student to the principle.

Classroom Management Tips: Dos and Don'ts
When planning your classroom management strategies, you should make sure to include the following points in them

• Never give verbal or physical threats to the students. More importantly, never get involved into a confrontation in front of the class.
• Avoid using negative symbols, such as 'X', to mark a wrong answer. You can use a '/' (slash) instead.
• Avoid using red ink to give grades, red color represents negativity and hence is best avoided.
• The students look at teacher as an inspiration, so you wouldn't want to fumble in front of them. Be well prepared with the lessons that you will take well in advance.
• Be firm, yet friendly and supportive to the students. Any inclination on either side will send wrong signals to the student.
• Act fairly with all the students irrespective of how they behave with you. A mistake from the best student of your class calls for the same punishment, which you would give to the most naughty student for the act.

Remember that classroom management is a skill which has to be practiced throughout your career. These classroom management strategies will also help you to cut down on problems such as indiscipline, and indirectly lessen the distractions in your classroom. 

 

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Importance of Teachers

Have you ever thought about the importance of teachers in your life? Well, read on and find out if the following article helps you to do so.

As someone has rightly said, "A teacher's purpose is not to create students in his own image, but to develop students who can create their own image". This is how inspiring a teacher can be in one's life. Right from kindergarten to college, more than a parent, it is our teachers who bring us up. They are the ones, who not only give us knowledge but teach us how to live. A teacher can be your friend when you need a shoulder to cry on, a parent when you need support, and a critic when you are going the wrong way. Each one of us has experienced some or the other qualities of a teacher which have taught us a lesson about life. The good teachers taught us to stay away from the wrong things and make the right choices. Even though the importance of teachers doesn’t need to be told, there are a few parts of our lives which only teachers can influence. This teaching quality is mentioned elaborately in the coming up paragraphs, so read on and find out.

Importance of Teachers in Education

The first and most important role that teachers play in every student’s life is to educate them. Understanding a particular concept of any subject is a very easy job, but it gets tougher when it has to be made simpler for kids to understand. They make education a simpler process by explaining the subject in literal ways, using examples and demonstrations. To teach a child a completely new and unheard topic, so that he/she remembers it and learns to apply it in the right manner is a very difficult task. Find out what is the importance of teachers when it comes to educating children in the true sense of the word.

Communication
One of the first few qualities that teachers need to have is the comfort to communicate with their students. Communication should be from both the sides, never just from one end, as that is not called as healthy interaction. Coming up with strategies to improve this teacher-student interaction can also prove helpful, as it will be a double sided flow of knowledge. Talking to children and then making them feel comfortable to converse with you is a great quality which only teachers can have. These good teacher qualities can make students confident and help them build strong personalities in the future.

Management
Another point of teaching is, to teach students how to manage time as well as other important things in life. When there is respect for a particular teacher, the students immediately listen to what he/she has to say. With particular classroom management techniques, the teaching as well as learning environment is made healthy. When teachers attend to each of their students personally and take care of their needs, there is a special bond that is created, which develops into respect and trust for each other. Therefore, teachers are the second biggest influence in our lives, because they are the ones we look up to and respect after our parents.

Importance of Teachers in Students Life

The second importance of teachers in a student’s life is to inspire him/her. After the academic and professional importance, there is another side of these heroes which they are more than happy to display. This side is that of a friend and listener. Take a look at what is the role of a teacher in changing the lives of their students.

Motivation
Each of us need someone to motivate us, when there is nothing positive happening in our lives. Students dealing with change in their lives are in need of motivation the most. Many a times, parents fail to understand specific needs of their own children and this is when teachers come to the rescue. One of the strategies of teaching is to hold sessions for motivation in the classroom for teenagers. Kids can open up to them with their problems with the assurance of understanding their needs. There are some teachers who help motivating kids through parental counseling, and by explaining kids’ problems to their parents.

Inspiration
Last but never the least, a teacher can be an inspiration to millions without even knowing it. With the way they teach, connect and bring out the best, teachers can be very important in self improvement for children who can't find inspiration. There have been many great people in the history of this world, who consider their lives as a sole product of their teachers teaching. For this purpose, the "Teacher" has been given a very important position in many cultures like the Chinese, Indian and Latin American. In India, 5th of September is celebrated as Teachers Day to show gratitude for these wonderful gifts to mankind.

So, with these roles that they play in all our lives, I am sure you know what is the importance of teachers. When I was little, I had seen a picture of a potter's hand molding clay. Likewise, teachers are the ones who mold our lives and teach us not only the lessons in the books, but also the lessons of life.

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Laboratory Methods of Teaching

Here's presenting you the guide to the laboratory methods of teaching. Read the content and I'm sure you will find the tips useful in your teaching profession.

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Educating students in a laboratory is the best part of teaching profession. Being a science student, I can well perceive the feelings of students when the bell rings for practical sessions. The enthusiasm to perform hands-on-experiments is evident in each face. So long they have been learning lessons theoretically and now it's time to perform the experiments. Usually the basics or the techniques of dry experiments are taught at elementary level. Middle school is the time when they are exposed to wet lab experiments. That was a picture of student's behavior. If we look at the scenario from a teacher's point of view, then we will find responsibilities looming large. Laboratory methods of teaching are entirely different from that of theory. So how does a teacher guide their students? How will she/he take care of the safety? How will she/he teach the right way to perform experiments? Well, any new beginner will think on these lines. Therefore, read the upcoming paragraphs to find out the answer.

Laboratory Teaching Method ~ The Correct Technique

Taking up practical classes is hectic. A sincere guide walks around to supervise his/her students. Therefore, most of the time is spent standing and this is absolutely strenuous. Still one takes care of the students. So what are the considerations to becoming a good lab teacher? Read ahead and know how can you improve laboratory methods of teaching.

Point 1 ~ Self Preparation
You should know everything about what you are going to teach your students. You must know the details of the experiment. Revise the techniques of the lab so that you make your students learn the correct way right from the beginning. You should be well prepared to answer their questions and clarify their doubts. A good start is always needed to begin an experiment. Click on the link to know the correct teaching methods in education.

Point 2 ~ Right Explanation
The worth of teacher is always weighed by students. Knowing everything is not enough. So what are the effective teaching strategies in a lab? You should be capable of sharing your knowledge with your students. You must be able to make them understand each and every scientific cause behind the observations. Your students will be curious to know and so you have to be efficient enough to reply them confidently.

Point 3 ~ Starting Experiments
So how do you start the experiment? There are different ways to start with. The best is to explain the process orally once, explaining the methods as written in the protocol. You should ask your students to follow the protocol before handing the instruments. This way they will learn the correct procedures for performing the experiment. You can also schematically explain the process.

Point 4 ~ Handling Instruments
This is one of the most important aspect to be considered while performing an experiment. Mishandling of instruments might lead to accidents and breakage of expensive lab supplies. Show them how to hold the test tubes, light burners or handle any instrument. Your students should follow you and should not try anything spontaneously if they are ignorant about it.

Point 4 ~ Explaining Observations
Once the experiment is over, you are supposed to explain your students the reasons behind the observations. Explain them the inference in details, so that no doubt remains in their mind. Relate the observation with the text they have learned in their theory classes. Getting accurate results is quintessential for the success of an experiment.

Point 5 ~ Writing Reports
There are different ways to write lab reports. You should teach your student the sequence for writing a lab report format. The typical structure of a thesis or lab reports begins with the aim of the experiment, the requisition and then the detailed explanation of the process, methods techniques and the precautions required. At last, the observation along with a good conclusion is cited. Diagrams, flow charts, formulas, schematic paths, etc. are important part of the report.

Point 6 ~ Lab Safety
You should know the safety guidelines and lab safety symbols before teaching your students. You should explain them the precautions needed for the experiment. Your students should know how to operate safety devices like oxygen cylinders, masks, gloves, head bands, etc. This way mishaps are avoided. You must always keep first aid inside the laboratory to treat minor burns and blisters. Read about the lab safety rules for kids before starting an experiment.

I hope the laboratory methods of teaching written in the aforementioned content has proven useful to you. Last but not the least, if you have taken up teaching as your profession, then you must work on this line, 'a teacher should be a friend, philosopher and a guide'.

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Career Goals for Teachers

Teachers are vital for igniting young minds and shaping the future of a nation. Career goals for teachers are a must to make them more efficient and productive. Know more about them in this article.

It seems quite a simple and formal task but writing career goals increases focus and concentration. This goes true only if you're making efforts to achieve your goals. If your actions are propelling you in the right direction, writing your goals frequently and then meditating on it, even for couple of minutes daily, helps you to remain focused. Goal setting has several other professional advantages. It is always required in your resumes and profiles. You're expected to sum up your career goals within few sentences and lines. This demands clarity of thoughts regarding your aims and objectives. Career goals for teachers, just like for any other professionals is essential to break free from the monotonicity of doing same tasks every day. No matter you're a kindergarten teacher or university level professor, writing career goals for yourself, will help you to achieve holistic personal and professional growth.

How to Write Career Goals and Objectives for Teachers

Writing career goals for teachers must not be a difficult task. Teachers can try to foray in other fields or develop new hobby and skills. Numerous examples of career goals will reveal to teachers that they can include anything in their career goals, right from teaching a subject in a new way to their personal life goals, like achieving work life balance. Some essential points that teachers must give a thought to while writing career goals for themselves are:

• Think of the area you feel you need to improve yourself. Write your professional goals and personal life goals, in two separate columns, in a notebook.
• It is better to write your goals and objectives in points, in short sentences. Try to put your goals in words but not more than one sentence.
• Make a record of your actions for achieving your goals on a daily or weekly basis.
• Career goals for teachers in their profession may include organization goals, enhancing teaching skills, improving student participation in class, adopting effective teaching strategies, better teacher parent communication etc.

Sample Career Goals for Teachers

There are various areas in which teachers can improve their professional work. Even the veteran teachers can try to sharpen their organizational and teaching skills. The more efficiently a teacher will plan his or her strategy for working, better will be the teaching experience as well as the career development path. Good teachers, mind you, are always assets for an educational institute. Similarly, when it comes to teaching, incorporating interesting ideas and methods to teach students is one of the most ideal career goals for teachers. Here is the list of some career goals examples that teachers can include in their goals and objectives list.

• Incorporate the use of technology in classrooms to enhance understanding of students.
• Spend some time on alternate days in a week to improve vocabulary and general awareness of students.
• Motivate students to read books by conducting 'reading sessions' in classroom, at least once or twice a week.
• Build stronger professional relationships with other teaching staff.
• Plan teaching work based on every week basis.
• Continue learning by keeping oneself updated about latest developments in the interest area.
• Help first year teachers in work and solve students queries regarding suitable career path.
• Instill confidence in special children by giving them focused and goal - directed instruction.
• Read some popular books about teaching and try to bridge the parent – teacher – student communication gap.
• Manage time effectively to balance work and personal life. Plan ahead of the day regarding tasks and duties to be carried out that specific day.
• Organize desk and children files for recording information properly.

These are just some of the short and long term career goals for teachers. Besides, career goals statement examples and teachers can write their own goals. Making goals can surely help you improve your teaching career. So teachers if you have no written goals, it is the time to write some and enhance your work.

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Teaching and Learning Styles

Over the years, the learning styles have changed in a significant manner. From the Socratic dialogue to the contribution on the development of cognitive, social and emotional skills, teaching has influenced a lot the way students learn and the way the adapt to the society. See how!

In the essence, teaching and learning are very much tied up to each other, teaching being meant to influence the kind of learning a student chooses. Over time, the teaching styles have changed significantly, according to the specific paradigms.

The ancient style of teaching was based on the Socratic dialogue. This would take place in the nature, thus in a less informal environment, and the student was actively involved in the process of teaching. The teacher, or the master, would ask questions which would eventually lead the young student to discover the answers. This type of teaching was effective because it represented a guide for the intellectual development of the students, especially the critical thinking. Moreover, the less formal environment made the students feel at ease and also contributed a lot to build a proper relationship between the teacher and the students.

As time passed by, the way of teaching changed radically, reaching its peak in the beginning of the 20th century when a new paradigm was born. Behaviorism concluded that learning is the result of systematic repetition.

Two laws are found at the base of this principle. The first one is called the law of the stimulus and it refers to the fact that the more a stimulus is repeated the easier it is reproduced later. The second law is called the effect law and it says that the more the effect is reinforced the more it leads to the repetition of the behavior which led to it in the beginning.

Therefore, the teachers began to consider themselves as the only true possessors of the information, while the students were seen as passive recipients of information. There was always a correct and an incorrect answer, and the correct answer was always given by the professor. The students only had to memorize it and then reproduce it the same way. Because of this, their learning strategies were reduced to only acquiring the most prolific memorizing strategies. They were not encouraged to critically think over the information but only to encode inside their mind. If they reproduced it accurately, they were rewarded with high marks and appreciations. On the contrary, if they failed to give the answers expected by the teachers, or if they had different opinions about a subject, they had been punished with low marks and indifference.

Eventually, the students were drawn to learn only by the extrinsic motivation of the reinforcements. Therefore, they didn’t have a self-regulated type of learning, selecting what they like and believe it’s useful for them. This was an unwanted consequence and another one raised from the fact that they were not encouraged to actively processing the information. Because of this, they did not make connections with information for other domains, and what they’ve learned had little applicability to daily life. Thus, those years gave a lot of students who won prestigious knowledge contests, but only few who contributed to the development of science through their critical, innovative and creative thinking.

These above mentioned problems led to the development of another paradigm, the social-cognitive one. They promoted the following principles: each person is an active processor of information and intrinsic motivation is a crucial part of successful learning. Only intrinsic motivation would lead to self-regulated learning and it is only developed when there are different options for one to choose. The teachers were not seen anymore as being the only possessors of information. They admitted other sources and more than that, they encouraged the students to learn from various sources. The classes became less formal and there has been place an important accent over the teacher and student relationship. Teachers became co-workers with the students in the process of learning. Their role was especially the one of guiding the students to develop their critical thinking and also their emotional and social skills. Students were again encouraged to ask questions, to form and express their own opinions and to make connections between the information gathered from various domains. This led to a high degree of transfer of information to daily life.

In conclusion, there is an important connection between the teaching styles and the learning ones, the first one determining the other. A less restricted environment and a less rigid style of teaching bring out of students the most wanted critical and creative thinking. 

 

 

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/teaching-and-learning-styles.html

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