This write-up contains tips for all aspiring, new, and old teachers to excel in their field.
1. Plan ahead
Pre-planning is extremely important. When teachers create a thorough and step-by-step plan for the school year ahead, they make their aims and goals apparent. Pre-planning helps teachers know what students need to learn and achieve, and at which point of the academic year. One effective planning method involves creating a rubric containing short- and long-term goals. Discuss your goals with students on the first day of class so they are aware of your timeline.
2. Be dedicated to your subject and job
A good teacher is passionate about teaching and about what they teach. If you want to excel at being an educator, you have to be highly learned in your subject and in the act of teaching itself.
A great way of doing so is by obtaining a master's degree in curriculum and instruction. This degree will equip you with the skill set required to be an effective educator and curriculum planner. It can also serve as a pathway toward becoming a professional curriculum developer, specialist, or any other high-paying job in the education sector.
3. Learn the art of grading
Students fear receiving grades as much as teachers dread grading them. Here, understanding that grading is an art in itself can do wonders. First, it is essential to remember that only some things need to be graded. As a teacher, if you assign homework assignments or worksheets, it is optional to grade them. These should help students practice and thoroughly understand what they learned.
Exams, surprise tests, and quizzes, on the other hand, should be graded so that students know where they stand individually and in comparison, to their peers. However, before conducting any test, provide your students with practice sample tests and quizzes so that they know what to expect. Also, let them be aware of the difficulty level of a test before it takes place.
Furthermore, it is less time-consuming to grade papers as soon as possible instead of putting them off for later and dodging questions about when they will be graded. Long-to-grade papers can lead to a lack of enthusiasm and eagerness to rectify student mistakes. So, try your best to grade and return papers timely.
4. Build a healthy relationship with your students
A teacher-student relationship should also be based on mutual respect and trust, like family relations and friendships. A cold and strict demeanor toward your students will make them perceive you as unapproachable. The strictness, in turn, is detrimental to their ability to learn as they hesitate to ask for help or voice their concerns. Instead, having a warm and welcoming demeanor toward your students will make you approachable and popular among them.
A report on effective teaching concluded that creating a classroom environment that is "constantly demanding more" while affirming students' self-worth is important. A healthy student-teacher relationship should not be entirely based on schoolwork and academics. Spend time with your students, take them on educational trips, and be genuinely interested and invested in their plans, hobbies, and goals. Your students shall always remember you in their good graces by doing so.
5. Socialize with colleagues and parents
Educators must emphasize the importance of socializing and building connections with fellow teachers and parents. As a teacher, your colleagues are in the same boat as you. Being in the same boat means they have valuable insight and strategies that may help you in your work as a teacher. So, use your lunch breaks and school events wisely to network with your peers.
When it comes to parents, they observe and supervise their children's learning and studying habits outside of the classroom by engaging the parents and asking for out-of-class feedback. Furthermore, providing in-class feedback on their child's learning progress, you create a healthy dialogue that allows parents to pitch in and contribute to their child's education.
6. Have zero tolerance towards bullying
A rather sensitive yet crucial issue in schools and institutions is bullying. According to a study, nearly 50% of elementary, middle, and high school students experience bullying. Being an educator, you must divert your attention toward this issue and assist in combating it.
By observing a zero-tolerance policy towards bullying, you make it evident to all your students that bullying is unacceptable and has consequences. Suppose a student is bullied outside of the classroom. Still, as an educator, you are vocal about your discouragement towards bullying. In that case, your students can confide in and approach you if faced with the same.
7. Give and receive feedback
Giving and receiving feedback is the cornerstone of effective communication between two parties. The same applies to student-teacher relationships. Students need feedback to know where they went wrong, what to do better next time, or what they did right and should continue doing. Similarly, teachers need feedback on which teaching strategy or methodology worked well. How students received their lectures, and what they can do better to make the curriculum easier to absorb. Hence, giving and receiving feedback go hand in hand with academic progress.
8. Have a positive approach
Teaching is more challenging than it seems. Being an esteemed and resourceful educator takes high dedication and commitment. Having A positive approach toward your work can make all the difference. By staying positive and optimistic, you lead by example. Your students, colleagues, and parents will catch on to your positivity and enthusiasm and reflect the same back to you ten folds.
Conclusion
All in all, teaching is an ever-rewarding job. A good teacher is never forgotten and can change a student's life forever. If you find yourself pursuing this field and wanting to excel at it, incorporate the abovementioned tips into your teaching journey. And remember that you have the power to create bright future leaders for a better tomorrow!
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