4 Traits You’ll Need to Be an Effective Teacher
Below are 4 things you’ll need for effective teaching
ENERGY
Attitudes are contagious, make sure yours is one worth catching. Depending on the age, a lot of times the kids are the ones actually giving you energy. They come to school happy, smiling, and excited to see you. It’s like coming home to a new puppy everyday. Don’t lose that energy, harness it. Kids model and mirror your attitude, if your are stoked and excited about something, they will be too. Your excitement doesn’t even have to actually be about anything super cool, you can just pretend it is, and they will be intrigued. The same goes for acting bored, tired, or uninterested. Kids will quickly model that behavior, sometimes even more quickly and more easily than a positive behavior. Remember: the characters in Winnie the Pooh, don’t be an Eeyore, be a Tigger.
MOVEMENT
Make sure you are moving and monitoring the classroom. Movement is important because it helps keep the students engaged. When they are learning or sitting, make sure to walk around the room. This makes you more unpredictable and forces the students to be more alert. They will also be inclined to behave better because they think they are being watched. This helps you see the room and the students better, and it is easier for you to help the ones who are struggling. By moving around the room you can check for comprehension and if the students are following the right directions. Your students may also be more inclined to ask for help. It’s less intimidating to some students to ask a teacher one-on-one, then to ask in front of the whole class, especially if it is something they may be embarrassed about not knowing.
FLEXIBILITY
Be ready to come up with activities, games, and lessons on the spot. Maybe an activity goes faster than expected, be able to make up a simple game that keeps the students engaged and allows them to learn more. This will also keep the students from miss behaving. “free time” can be dangerous. Always have something to keep them busy. Make sure you have materials prepared for these specific moments. The best are games and activities where no prior preparation is needed. Maybe the technology isn’t working or the wifi is out, how can you improvise and make use of the time? If your students don’t understand something, how can you explain it differently or visually. Be ready for management to spring things on you at the last minute and for you to finish it asap. Don’t complain, that just wastes more time. Also, be prepared for shortened classes, time taken away from a lesson (things like pictures, field trips, special activities, parties, or guests). Just get things done the best you can. Be creative and think of ways to improve games or lessons. If the game gets too easy, spice it up, add new elements, make it harder. If you can make learning fun, they will learn more and enjoy it.
ENGAGEMENT
If your students aren’t engaged they aren’t learning. Make sure you know your students, and how each student learns best. Not all engagement looks the same. Just because a student isn’t sitting nicely or looking at you, doesn’t mean they aren’t listening. This is why checking for understanding and comprehension is so important. Try to cater your lessons to multiple learning styles. Remember every student is different and not everyone learns the same way you do. Be flexible in you teaching styles and adjust to the students, the classroom, and the environment. Do your best to teach to all different types of learning styles.
Summary in 4 points
- Energy– Attitudes are contagious.
- Movement– Move it or lose it
- Flexibility – Be prepared to be unprepared
- Engagement– An engaged student is a learning student
