We all remember a teacher who positively impacted our lives in some way. We want you to be a successful, effective, and memorable teacher! This blog will help anyone who teaches regardless of the learning environment. If you run a homeschool, teach in a learning center, public or private school, or university, you can make a difference. Teaching can be demanding and exhausting but can be rewarding if you enjoy what you do. If you’re thinking about a career in education, you can check out this blog post that has some tips.
The Right Attitude: Always bring positive energy when teaching, no matter what. If you have been having a rough week or not getting enough sleep, push through it. Approaching each day with optimism will make learning more enjoyable for students. Keeping your students engaged and motivated is a must, as well!
Ability to Adapt: Circumstances change, and being flexible shows students your resilience. When you take an approach of going with the flow and not stressing, you set a good example. Also, taking reasonable risks displays how you handle failure, which students notice.
Organization: Students do not like to wait for grades or report cards. If you exert 100% effort into staying organized, you and the class benefit. You will feel anxious if work keeps piling up on the desk. Your students will be happier because they do not have to wait for their grades. Get a teachers’ planner or keep a journal to write ideas and accomplishments down.
Set Clear Objectives: Defining expectations for the class and yourself let everyone grow. Setting goals to work towards creates a cohesive and healthy environment. Also, remaining consistent with your objectives demonstrates strength and reliability.
Be Approachable: Everyone has a unique identity, including teachers. Getting to know your students and being approachable improves their education. Developing connections will make children feel safe if they need emotional support. Also, always seize the opportunity to praise students authentically.
Continuous Learning: Great teachers constantly learn and grow personally and professionally. Carving out time for learning experiences gives you new insight and makes you more effective. Also, self-reflection plays a large role in learning by being aware of your strengths and weaknesses. You can learn from your mistakes and improve your teaching skills. Teachers who continuously learn and possess a curiosity will master their subjects. Staying on top of trends, topics, and the future direction can deliver powerful lessons to students. The Tao of Learning by Pamela Metz gives lessons to not just students but also teachers.
Be Open to Criticism: Teachers have many formal and informal observers that may have criticism. Take the opportunity to learn about, grow, and improve to become a more effective teacher. Also, do not focus on and look for immediate feedback because this can cause burnout and unnecessary stress.
Sense of Humor: When you make learning fun and interactive, you will impact students. Having a sense of humor shows you have a personality that you can use to let students know you want them to succeed.
Use Your Creativity: When feeling light on inspiration, many resources exist. You can take courses or read books or blogs. Thanks to technology, you can turn to social media for fresh ideas. Use creativity to find the best solutions and explore new tools that will work best for your classroom. The book Playful Mind, by James Downton, draws awareness to creativity you may think you do not have.
Communicate with Parents: Encouraging parent involvement will set students up for academic success. Having an open path of communication will serve your students and show that you care. Also, effective teachers do not feel threatened when facing parent advocacy. The ebook, Working Together by Dr. Anthony Coletta gives tips to help parents become more active in their child’s education.
Welcoming Change: Think outside of the box by changing up lesson plans or the environment. Rearranging the desks will break up routines while also teaching students how to adapt to change. Change stimulates the brain, and embracing change makes learning more exciting.
Mentorship: Finding a mentor helps professional growth no matter the stage of your teaching career. You can also mentor other teachers and gain and give differing perspectives.
We hope this offers new tips on becoming more successful and effective in your teaching career. You can revisit our older posts: 25 Things Successful Teachers Do Differently Become a More Effective Teacher and 11 Habits of Effective Teachers.