TEACHING

DO/DON’T
 USE LARGE TEXT
• USING LARGE TEXT WHEN TEACHING IS IMPORTANT
BECAUSE IT LIMITS DISTRACTIONS, KEEPS CHILDREN
ENGAGED, FOCUSES ON MAIN IDEAS AND IS EASIER FOR
STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND/READ.
• EVERY STUDENT SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEE WHAT
IS WRITTEN OR BEING WRITTEN ON THE BOARD.
• LABELS AROUND THE CLASSROOM SHOULD BE LARGE AND
BOLD FOR A BETTER STRUCTURE OF THE CLASSROOM.
 KEEP LESSONS INTERESTING
• YOUR CLASSROOM AND LESSONS SHOULD BE FUN AND
ENGAGING.
• STUDENTS WILL NOT THRIVE IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT
LACKS MATERIALS SUCH AS TOYS, BOOKS, WRITING
MATERIALS, VISUALS, LABELS, ETC.
• LESSONS SHOULD BE INTERESTING, LIGHT, MEANINGFUL,
KNOWLEDGEABLE AND PRACTICAL.
 DO: DIFFERENTIATE YOUR TEACHING
METHODS
• STUDENTS LEARN AT DIFFERENT RATES. HAVING DIFFERENT METHODS
OF TEACHING ALLOWS ACCOMMODATIONS FOR EACH STUDENT.
• TEACHING THE SAME MATERIAL BUT USING A VARIETY OF
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES SUCH AS:
• DIRECT INSTRUCTION
• SMALL-GROUP LESSONS
• ONE-ON-ONE DISCUSSION
• DIFFERING WORKSHEETS AND ASSESSMENTS WITH VARYING
LEVELS OF DIFFICULTY DEPENDING ON THE STUDENTS LEARNING
LEVEL.
 DON’T: ONLY USE TEACHER-CENTERED
LEARNING
• TEACHER CENTERED LEARNING IS WHEN A TEACHER TEACHES A
LESSON DIRECTLY TO THE STUDENTS. THE STUDENTS LISTEN WITH
LITTLE ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT.
• TEACHING THIS WAY LEADS TO A LACK OF SPACE FOR THEM TO
THINK CREATIVELY.
• NO COLLABORATION WITH OTHER STUDENTS IS NOT BENEFICIAL
FOR YOUNG LEARNERS AS IT IS UNINTERESTING AND CAN CAUSE
THEM TO LOSE FOCUS ON THE MATERIAL BEING TAUGHT.
• ADDING MORE ENGAGING STUDENT-CENTERED EXERCISES INTO
YOUR LESSON PLAN ALLOWS STUDENTS TO INTERACT WITH ONE
 DO: USE VISUALS
• IT IS IMPORTANT TO USE VISUALS WHEN TEACHING IN A
CLASSROOM. VISUALS HELP YOUNGER STUDENTS VISUALIZE THE
MAIN IDEAS AND HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE OBJECTIVE
BETTER.
• USING VISUALS AROUND YOUR CLASSROOM IS A STRATEGIC WAY
TO ALLOW STUDENTS TO EXPLORE OBJECTS.
• VISUALS WHEN TEACHING COULD BE USED WHEN CREATING A
POWERPOINT, PAST STUDENT WORK/MODELS, PICTURES THAT
RELATE TO THE LESSON/TOPIC YOU ARE TEACHING, ETC.
• VISUALS AROUND THE CLASSROOM COULD INCLUDE WEATHER
ELEMENTS, BIRTHDAY DATES, THE ALPHABET, CLOCKS/TIME,
NUMBERS, MONEY POSTERS, CURRENT STUDENT WORK ETC.
 DO: PROVIDE STUDENT CENTERED LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES
• ALLOWING STUDENTS, THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE HOW THEY WANT TO LEARN
PROMOTES ENGAGEMENT AND INDEPENDENCE IN THE CLASSROOM.
• LETTING STUDENTS CHOOSE BETWEEN CHOICE BOARDS, PROJECT-BASED
LEARNING, CENTERS, ETC. IS A GREAT WAY TO ACCOMMODATE FOR
STUDENTS.
• CHOICE BOARDS: ALLOWING STUDENTS TO CHOOSE FROM VARIOUS
ACTIVITIES WHEN ASKED TO DEMONSTRATE UNDERSTANDING.
• PROJECT-BASED LEARNING: RELIES ON STUDENT COLLABORATION AND
CREATIVITY, WITH HELP FROM THE TEACHER WHEN NEEDED. STUDENTS
WILL WORK ON A TOPIC IN CLASS, OVER MULTIPLE SESSIONS BASED ON
SOMETHING THEY LEARNED IN CLASS.
•
 DON’T: TREAT STUDENTS UNFAIRLY
• AFTER GETTING TO KNOW YOUR STUDENTS SOME
TEACHERS TEND TO FAVOR SOME OVER OTHERS BASED
ON BEHAVIOR IN THE CLASSROOM.
• TEACHERS TEND TO FAVOR THEIR FRIENDLIER STUDENTS,
THEIR ACADEMICALLY HIGH ACHIEVING STUDENTS, ETC.

• IT IS IMPORTANT TO TREAT ALL STUDENTS WITH THE

SAME RESPECT, SUPPORT AND KINDNESS. SHOWING THE
SAME CONSIDERATION TOWARDS A STUDENT SHOWING
POOR BEHAVIOR MAY CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR IN THE
CLASSROOM BECAUSE OF OF THE PATIENCE AND
 DON’T: COME UNPREPARED TO CLASS
• IT IS CRUCIAL FOR A TEACHER TO COME PREPARED TO
CLASS EVERY MORNING.
• IF MATERIAL IS NOT READY, STUDENTS WILL HAVE TOO
MUCH FREE TIME LEADING TO OFF TASK BEHAVIORS AND
BECOME DISRUPTIVE.

• PLANNING YOUR LESSONS IN ADVANCE ALLOWS PROPER

PREPARATION FOR YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS. PRE WEEK
PLANNING AND MATERIAL GATHERING IS A GREAT WAY
TO STAY ORGANIZED. HAVING MATERIALS READY
ALLOWS ROOM FOR ANY SUDDEN ABSENCE YOU AS THE