Things I love about teaching!

A teacher was all I ever wanted to be. I didn’t know what I wanted to teach, but that didn’t matter; I just knew teaching was my future.

So many things. Here are a few I loved:

1. Showing students who despise reading that it can be joyful.
2. Helping young people, who had little faith in their abilities, succeed at skills they didn’t know they could develop.
3. Catching the electric spark that pulses through a classroom when a lesson succeeds. 
4. Being on the lookout for ideas to bring into the classroom. That was such a constant practice; it’s been a hard habit to break.
5. Researching, planning, creating, tweaking lessons.
6. Enjoying the company of teenagers and my colleagues.

I personally fund out that teaching as profession is all about passion and making others a way to choose there right path. It is very rewarding for ourselves to see the students learning and growing!

Student expectations from teacher.

First of all they want the teacher to know what he or she is talking about. Students want the teacher to be organized and clear in his/her expectations . Then they want an antimated presentation not a droning reading of the book.

A little humor is also appreciated. Students also like a teacher who truly cares about them and helps them learn. They appreciate a teacher who admits when he doesn't know something and who is willing to listen to student input or even dissent. Serious students want a teacher who has control over the class and doesn't allow a unruly atmosphere. Sounds like a lot to ask; that is why not every teacher is effective but others are.

When I was evaluating professors and looked at student evaluations, lack of organization and boring presentation were the main negative factors.

What should a new teacher know?

Know that building rapport is also important along with imparting knowledge. A knowledgeable teacher will still be unable to capture the attention of her students if the teacher appears uninterested in the students.

As a fresh teacher, I was constantly worried about how every lesson will turn out and how students view me as a person and my teaching. We also have our bad days when the lesson just seems to go very wrong (e.g. cannot capture the attention of students or can’t work out a solution to a student’s answer) and I would be worried that this would diminish my students’ trust in me. But after a while you will realize, screwing up a lesson once or twice wouldn't matter.

Expectations from a new teacher

I’ve been a corporate English teacher for a few years now and the one thing I've learned over the past few years is that most teachers aren't worth their salt.

When I'm talking to a teacher for the first time about their classes, the two questions I ask about their lessons are

1. What are your students goals?
2. What are you doing to get them there?

Most people have no problem answering the first one. You should know goal of each students.

The second question is the one that if you're teaching a class who needs to write business emails in English, and you're it actually practicing that in class, the chances of your student being successful are basically non-existent, right?

Make sure you can answer those two questions- the second one in more detail.

Finally, hold your students accountable. Ask them if they are going to do something, with the intention of them saying yes. Communicate clearly the punishment for not doing it and hold them accountable. Do not bend on your word.

You might come off as a bit mean, but students will respect you because they know what the outcomes are for the actions they take.

Some good advices for new teachers!!

Teaching is a very challenging profession. It is more challenging for a novice teacher. Therefore, do not choose this profession with the statement,“If not fit in another profession then there's teaching.”

If you really eager to be a teacher then the following points may help you.

• Pre-plan: Master over the subject matter. What and how are you going to teach each and every day?
• Be trained: Either before or after joining the profession be trained from the training centre/colleges/university.
• Take part in refreshment trainings/workshops/seminars: These days there are plenty of training institutes. Take part in those sessions.
• Teach with touch: At first, know your students. Touch them with your ability, skills. Whatever you teach, bring variations in your pedagogy.
• Be a guider/role model/fun loving/enthusiast: Guide your students towards the correct path. To teach doesn't mean only to complete text book. Primary kids are really energetic so engage them through different ways.
• 

Tips for a teacher to make class interesting!

There are some tips that can help any teacher to make the class more interesting!!

1. Overcome distance or age difference between you and them.
2. Mix with them as water mixes in milk.
3. Give them according to their taste and interest, according to what they like.
4. Correlate subject's topic or theory with different but useful motivational stories.

I’ll tell you what I used to do in my lecture: -

1. Here, I used to say motivational true stories, debate on current social issues, brainstorming on various issues of their age group faced to find solution.
2. Always try to encourage them to speak in front of class in various topic, inculcate different required skills, inspired to think on various aspects of life.
3. We have to keep in mind that we have great responsibility to create good future citizen of India who will able to take right decision on time. We have to focus on overall development of student.
4. We have to focus on long term gain, not on short term goals.

That’s all you can also do!

Importance to have a hobby or join hobby classes

It is very important emotionally and psychologically to have hobbies and personal interests in life. A person must have a well balanced lifestyle. Most people work for a living. Some prefer to work long hours or even six days a week. That can lead to stress and a lot of anxiety.

Our minds and bodies need plenty of rest, after a long period of strenuous activity, or repetitive work. We need to unwind and relax too. This is when we must do the things we want to please us and give us peace. To satisfy our inner child to play or something that will pass the time.

Hobbies are important so as to relieve all that tension and stressful daily routines at work. We need time for the simplicity of play and be creative with our own time. Some hobbies can be social activities too. That is why many people will attend a local sports club or go to the gym for exercise. Then there are those who are collectors of certain memorabilia. And there is much more when we talk about hobbies.

The main point is to occupy your free time with hobbies, sports, and activities that will improve our well being. Hobbies are things we do for enjoyment and fun. Human beings need the ability to play and have fun in life which will give them ultimate confidence and self-esteem.

What is the difference between knowledge and education?

Education is limited. It is what a person needs to live. It defines the way you spend your life.

Knowledge is like that infinite balloon which can be stretched forever. It isn't counted in basic need. Knowledge is like water that satisfies our soul's thirst.

Education is a roof, meal for two times a day and enough appliances to live.

Knowledge is a big mansion, feast, and luxury.
Not necessary, but very tempting for those who have left for this journey of gaining knowledge.

What is the role of a school teacher in a student's life?

Teachers play vital roles in the lives of the students. Teachers are best known for the role of educating the students that are placed in their care. Beyond that, teachers set the tone of their classrooms, build a warm environment, mentor and nurture students, become role models, and listen and look for signs of trouble.

Teaching Knowledge

The most common role a teacher plays in the classroom is to teach knowledge to children. Teachers are given a curriculum they must follow that meets state guidelines. Teachers teach in many ways including lectures, small group activities and hands-on learning activities.

Creating Classroom Environment

Students often mimic a teacher’s actions. If the teacher prepares a warm, happy environment, students are more likely to be happy. An environment set by the teacher can be either positive or negative. Students are responsible for the social behaviour in their classrooms. This behaviour is primarily a reflection of the teacher’s actions and the environment she sets.

Role Modelling

Students spend a great deal of time with their teacher and therefore, the teacher becomes a role model to them. Teachers are typically highly respected by people in the community and therefore become a role model to students and parents.

Mentoring

Mentoring is a natural role taken on by teachers, whether it is intentional or not. Mentoring is a way a teacher encourages students to strive to be the best they can. This also includes encouraging students to enjoy learning. Part of mentoring consists of listening to students. By taking time to listen to what students say, teachers impart to students a sense of ownership in the classroom. This helps build their confidence and helps them want to be successful.

ANYBODY CAN BE A TEACHER!

 

“Teaching is a noble profession.”

I am a teacher by choice and to my surprise I got across a number of colleagues who declared that they had got into the teaching profession because:

a) it was better than an office job.

c) after marriage it seemed like the most suitable or acceptable option.

d) they weren’t qualified for anything else.

e) they could earn some pocket money.

This was the case all of fifteen years ago, maybe even earlier, and which I feel is partly responsible for the scant respect accorded to the teaching profession as a whole.

To be a teacher in today’s fast changing scenario can be exciting and challenging. There is now newness and dynamism to the whole approach of teaching.  But the bottom line still remains the same.

Anybody can become a teacher, although to be successful as a teacher you still need to love what you do. But that holds true for any profession!

Motivating Students

To motivate and guide the students in a proper way, teacher should have high level of patience and dedication to build the future of their students.

Following are some research-based strategies for motivating students to learn.

·       Get involved. Spending time outside of the classroom gives teachers additional opportunities to act as role models and mentors. 

·       Positive reinforcement. Praise him when you can, take note of his effort, and help him understand how his actions are going to help him not only in the classroom but in life

• Set realistic performance goals and help students achieve them by encouraging them to set their own reasonable goals.
• Be free with praise and constructive in criticism.  Offer non-judgmental feedback on students’ work, stress opportunities to improve, look for ways to stimulate advancement, and avoid dividing students into sheep and goats.
• Ownership. Give students options in the classroom. If students have a hand in making decisions about their education, they are more likely to commit to them.

The basic do’s and don’ts for conducting online classes

We all know that due to the COVID-19 lockdown, teachers are instructed by their institutions/schools to conduct online classes.

We will be discussing necessary things related to online classes that will help teachers.

 

Dos

·        Collect email addresses and contact numbers of all the students through which you want to conduct online classes.

·        Prepare yourself. Rehearsing for the topic will be better offline before your class.

·        Check all the important stuff, like internet connection, laptop, camera, etc. before your session.

·        Give your students all the instructions so that your online class runs smoothly and fruitful.

·        Keep your class as a series of short sessions so that students will not lose interest.

·        Take feedback from the students. Through this you will get their point of view about the session.

Don'ts

·        Don’t be very formal at the time of sessions.

·        Don’t postpone or cancel a class without any strong reason.