Professional Documents
Culture Documents
MAED-Report Material
MAED-Report Material
When sitting in a classroom, we all like to feel a connection with the speaker. This connection
allows the learners to feel comfortable and safe asking questions. Being able to create this
connection leads to effective teaching, and something all teachers strive for. Effective teaching
involves efficiently dispersing material to students in a competent manner. There are many
ways of teaching, but some are more effective than others. A definition for effective teaching is
teaching that utilizes instructional strategies that are most appropriate for the content and the
student, and is carried out in a proficient manner that allows for real learning.
The two main types of learning methods are student-centered, which is the preferable method,
and teacher-centered. Student-centered learning involves using a variety of teaching strategies
to meet the individual needs of the students, such as modifying assignments to fit students.
Even though this is the best method, there are times when teacher-centered methods need to
be used in the classroom. This method requires the activity to be focused on the teacher. For
example, when introducing a new concept, the teacher may need to be the center of attention
with a lecture or presentation.
Motivate:
Be passionate:
Reflect:
The two main types of learning methods are student-centered, which is the preferable method,
and teacher-centered. Student-centered learning involves using a variety of teaching strategies
to meet the individual needs of the students, such as modifying assignments to fit students.
Even though this is the best method, there are times when teacher-centered methods need to
be used in the classroom. This method requires the activity to be focused on the teacher. For
example, when introducing a new concept, the teacher may need to be the center of attention
with a lecture or presentation.
Teachers who express a passion for their work can inspire their students. It's
important to create engaging lesson plans to show students you're invested in
their academic growth. Students often appreciate knowing you're enthusiastic
about the subject you teach, and if you model this behavior, they may become
motivated to participate more in classroom activities or research the material
during leisure time.
Maintaining a friendly demeanor throughout the day can help make your
classroom space welcoming toward all students. Effective teachers understand
they can play an important role in a student's life aside from their academic career.
It may be helpful to provide support in the classroom for their social and
emotional needs, such as encouraging teamwork during activities and offering
helpful advice outside of class periods.
Caring about the lives and interests of students can help you build positive
relationships. Although it's important to maintain a boundary between your life at
home and at work, some teachers also share their own interests with students. Try
to communicate with a student's family frequently to learn additional context
about them and optimize your time when discussing their progress.
4. Be prepared
Effective teachers have a robust knowledge of their course material and spend a
lot of time planning their curriculums. They exert daily effort to ensure they can
perform high-quality instruction and complete grading deadlines. Consider
reviewing coursework every day so you can best answer student questions during
class. It may also be helpful to research classroom strategies recommended by
other teachers and educational specialists.
Successful teachers optimize their lesson plans to best use their time in the
classroom during weekdays. They often design lesson plans that involve multiple
learning steps, like a lecture on the material followed by individual assignments or
group-based classwork. Providing enough time during the school day for your
students to complete their work or finish an activity is also important.
6. Use clear language
Teachers who explain complicated ideas in simplified ways can help their students
learn more efficiently. They use multiple mediums to convey lesson material,
including diagrams, slideshows, demonstrations or supplementary videos. When
they assign projects, they provide distinct steps to address any potential concerns.
It may be helpful to use a steady speech pattern when introducing new concepts
to your class and incorporate a readable font size to any lecture materials.
Teachers who react with flexibility during unexpected events can better address
the needs of their students. For instance, you might predict that one activity can
help students understand a lesson but learn that another activity better supports
their learning process. Address any feedback quickly and account for changing
circumstances while planning a daily lesson.
9. Find resources
Effective teaching helps students to achieve their goals – both personal and academic.
We know that effective teachers can be hugely influential figures to many young people,
providing them with both certainty and assurance when they need it the most.
What is the key to effective teaching?
Although there are many different ways to teach effectively, good instructors have
several qualities in common. They are prepared, set clear and fair expectations, have a
positive attitude, are patient with students, and assess their teaching on a regular basis.
If you don’t know ‘who’ they are and ‘where’ they come from, any relationship is entirely
academic.
2. Talk to students (in class and outside of class)
How do you learn their story? Unless they have a biography you can read, talking to them–
and really listening–is the best way.
Of course, any strong teacher already does this. But to do so explicitly is to make sure the
student knows this to be true.
4. Play games
Team-building games for critical thinking, for example. Games are fun and having fun
together released dopamine improves learning outcomes. Games aren’t anywhere close to
the only source of dopamine–or even the best. But the bonding and ‘socialization’ that
occurs is a kind of foundation for relationship-building with students.
Creating activities or lessons that let every child shine would be great but, of course, isn’t
always sustainable/practical. What is accessible, however, is to intentionally create these
kinds of opportunities throughout the year. Some students love to draw while others are
social butterflies. Some love to speak publically while others thrive working behind the
scenes on critical projects.
Students don’t always have to be in these preferred ‘sweet spots,’ but they should have
ongoing opportunities to show their talents and genius.
If you do so, it will change the way you perceive certain events–behaviors, the quality of
work in certain assignments, questions, etc. Sometimes you’ll be ‘wrong’ by ‘assuming the
best’ in what a student meant or hoped to do and create, but by starting from this point,
you give students a chance to ‘fail forward’ and learn through their mistakes and learn to
self-manage.
Not like a job but not merely an informal conversation, either. Have a set of questions you
create beforehand to get a fuller picture of who they are and what they need from you.
8. Let students interview you
And let them do the same to you. If nothing else, what they choose to ask will help you
understand them better.
In large part, being a child is about learning what works is what doesn’t. This requires
mistakes. Lots of them. Provide clear and effective learning feedback when they fail or fall
short, then move on.
This is part of seeing them as people and not students. It will also have the effect
of them seeing you differently, as well.
Home visits can be an effective way of ‘knowing their story.’ Obviously, these need to be
done as part of a concerted effort with your school or district. You can read more
about home visits here.
First impressions are so extraordinary because, in these early moments, the brain ‘learns’
someone or thing and then continues to look for data that reinforces that story. Daniel
Kahneman’s ‘Thinking Fast and Slow‘ provides a compelling look at this and other
tendencies of the human mind (affiliate link).