8 Mistakes a teacher should avoid!

Teaching can be a smooth sailing job if certain rules are followed and certain mistakes avoided. Remember it is the students or the future of any nation that we are talking about. As often quoted, I would also quote again that teaching is a noble profession and requires a lot of determination, integrity and skill.

Teaching or rather any profession can roll in success or accomplishment for a person if he or she has self discipline. The same mantra of self discipline is applicable in this profession also. One wonders how a few teachers are able to take the burden and out shine others? You may also think how come a teacher who slogs and works so hard looks refreshing and is enthusiastic at all times?

The secret behind their gleaming personalities and humble demeanors lies below in avoiding the below mentioned habits or traits-

a.       Choosing a dress-Remember you have students, children who are gleaming and bubbling with joy and energy at all times. Hence you should never choose a dress in which you are uncomfortable because a lot of tasks have to be performed at the same time. Also do not overdress yourself and neither be shabby in appearance. Always be decently dressed which gives out positive teaching vibes to the children.

b.      Don’t ever wear a frown: A smile easily wins hearts and a frown just increases the distance between the students and the teacher. Whatever your frustrations or worries, never wear them on your face as a frown. Students get taken aback and do not respond positively to the teacher. Hence your classroom management can go out of control. Enter the class with a smile and greet the students before you begin the class.

c.       Never Stick to a corner-Most often teachers are seen standing in one corner or they have a favourite place in the classroom. Once they enter the classroom, they take their place and remain there until the period gets over. Avoid this. Never develop any predictable pattern for the students. Always be unpredictable. They must be curious at all times as to what she is up to today. Move all over the classroom. Infact try teaching from the back of the classrooms so that the children have to turn back and look at you. It keeps their attention for long.

d.      Never go late to a class-As a teacher you have to set rules. And it is better to follow before you lead. So reach the class on time and leave when the period is over. The students also understand the importance of punctuality.

e.       Never humiliate- The ground rule says that children get motivated to learn only in a positive environment. If they fail to perform one must only give them positive motivation to try again but never abuse them verbally to drive home the point. Any misbehavior on their part should be firmly dealt with but don’t harm the child’s perception about his ability to perform.

f.       Never go unplanned to the class-Planning is a prerequisite for teaching. All your lessons must be well planned. Take time out on a regular basis or weekly basis, whichever suits you to plan your lessons, the methodology and the ideas or activities to be done. Proper planning will save time and ensure proper implementation of the lesson.

g.      Avoid leaving the class during period- Many educators do not realize that leaving the class to go to the staffroom for some work is a sign of faulty planning on the part of the teacher. It shows that you were not prepared for the class. Remember to carry the material or stationery of printed worksheets to the class with you. Or place it in the class rack one day prior so that you do not have to hunt for it at the last minute.

h.      Don’t follow the rules of the students, make your own rules-At times the students get into the habit of making their own rules like-asking a question again and again, speaking when not asked to, replying for an answer in chorus, etc. As a teacher one must frame these rules at the starting of the year. Rules once framed must be followed until they realize that those rules are going to stay and it would be an offence if they tried to cross their lines. Gently make the students understand that they have to wait for their turn to answer, they cannot speak if a teacher is teaching and many more. These rules can be framed according to the needs of the class and they can be changed when required.

If the above mentioned points are avoided one is in for a successful and enjoyable roller coaster ride.

Next Article: 10 Things to do at the beginning of every school year.

5 Important Rules of Classroom Management

“The price of inaction is far greater than the cost of making a mistake.”

This truly defines the inner atmosphere of a classroom when we speak of classroom management. The basic principle of classroom management indicates that there should be continuous action on the part of the teacher to have a better classroom atmosphere.

Classroom management can be divided into two strong areas. The first one being the physical arrangement of furniture, the teacher’s desk, bulletin boards, book racks, etc. A teacher should use her aesthetic sense to arrange furniture and take care of the physical demographics of the classroom. This has a great impact on the students. A classroom which is well lit, airy and has ample room for movement will leave a better impact on the students mind and they will be more bent towards learning.

Though there are wonderful pictures and visions of vibrant and vivacious classrooms available on the internet, a teacher has her limitations when it comes to the classrooms. This is so because every school building is unique in its features and each building is constructed in a different manner according to the availability of the space.

The second important aspect of classroom management is the behavior management of the students and keeping the action going on in the classroom.

Below mentioned are the five important principles of good classroom management.

1.      An innovative idea in the classroom: A good teacher understands the importance of coming up with unique ideas to teach the students. She always aims to bring in an area of interest in her classroom every day. The more innovative a teacher is the more attentive her class would be. If a teacher is monotonous in her approach, the students lose their interest and do not follow her. This ultimately leads to no teaching learning taking place in the classroom. The more a child takes interest in the class the better he will learn.

2.      Going over prepared to the class: It is always better to be over prepared for the class. If you feel that your ideas will not be sufficient to last a period of 30 or 40 min then immediately plan some more activities to suffice. If the students are without work or they are idle, they will start creating noise and the situation will go out of hand.

3.      Time Management: Time management is very important in the classroom. A teacher has to perform many roles in the class and a lot of work has to be done. This requires time management. The educator must allocate time for each task that she has decided upon. Ex: taking attendance, collecting writing material, motivating students to read and submit their reading logs, deliver the lesson, allot home assignment, recapitulate, etc. All this again takes time to master.  So the teacher has to be at it very persuasively.

4.      Being mentally and physically present in the class:  This is the biggest challenge for a teacher. Once mastered it delivers very good result. A teacher has to be mentally and physically present in the classroom. Administrators often thrust many tasks upon a teacher which are to be done maintaining the deadlines. This is also important on the part of the school but it is the teacher who has to keep a rightful attitude to check her mental presence in the class. Often the teachers get blown away due to these inundating tasks which they are required to perform. If one gets carried away by these tasks and attaches more importance to them, teaching will take a back seat and the learners will suffer.

5.      Reaching class on time and leaving on time:  This is a prerequisite for every teacher and one of the important rules of classroom management. If the class is left empty for a long period of time, students make a mental rule that they are at liberty to do whatever they want. They will take the teacher for granted. It is simple, ‘If our teacher can come late so can we.’ You will find students out in the corridors once the class is empty. Trust me most incidents or mishaps take place in the transition time between the two periods. Leaving the class when the period is over is also very important. Don’t eat away into the time of the next educator.

The above mentioned are the time tested rules for classroom management. Follow these for effective result and proper attention of your students. It is important to remember that good classroom management will result in effective teaching and even in your growth as a teacher.

Ms.  Kesar Patel

Educator, Writer, Blogger and a Teaching Enthusiast.

Next article: 8 Mistakes A Teacher Should Never Make.

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