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Seven Great Teaching Strategies
- Teach Meta-Cognition. This is the act of thinking about one's own mental processes. It is a gift to start becoming aware how we learn the best. As teachers, we can encourage this consciousness in our students. It can help them access learning for a lifetime.
- Listen to Students. They may not be delivering messages in the most appropriate ways, but students intuitively know a lot. Helping them find the vocabulary to give us important information about them is a rewarding endeavor. It takes conscientious effort.
- Emphasize Strengths. All students have learning strengths. Find them, and capitalize on them. You just may be the first teacher to ever celebrate something unique about this student. If the strengths are highlighted, the areas that need work also can be discussed.
- Teach Self-Advocacy. In a perfect world all students have their parents to advocate for them. The truth is that many do not. Make them aware of their rights as a students, their learning strengths and challenges, and appropriate ways to advocate for themselves.
- Build Relationships. Speak honestly, and students will listen. The days of the mysterious authority figure are over for teachers. They appreciate (some) self-disclosure, consistency, and a real interest in who they are and what they're about.
- Work Hard. Or rather, work smarter, not harder. One afternoon sacrificed to organize the upcoming week is worth it tenfold. A smooth, routine oriented classroom takes some effort to organize, but pays off in the amount of learning gets accomplished.
- Celebrate Successes! This year, there is an anonymous donor of pizza for my students who can pull off a B average. We had a spontaneous popcorn party for a week free of detentions. In the stressful life of a student, sometimes it is the little things in life...
My hub that encourages National Board Certification!
- Teachers...Five Reasons to Become National Board Certified
National Board Certification requires an investment of time and money. It requires initiative, organizational skills, critical thinking, patience, and perseverance. In the end, though, it is so worthwhile!
the author recommends...
Fred Jones runs a classroom in a powerful and positive manner.
This teaches self-advocacy in an exploratory way. It encourages reflection on the part of the students, maybe as a complement to your discussions with them.
I can't resist this one. It was the book that shaped my major improvements in teaching. I get it out at the start of every school year to refresh myself.
Comments
These are wonderful insights. I especially liked number 4. It's often overlooked and yet is the grounds for eventual good citizenry. And once you've learned to advocate for yourself, you're in a better position and have the experience to advocate for others.
I agree with all of your strategies - all very important and useful, and shared.
Number one is most important for students, as they will be set up for life. And I absolutely agree with number 6 as a teacher - setting up the week's classes, one week ahead reduces stress and makes it easier to respond to problems that invariably crop up!
I don't tend to highlight the 100%-ers, because in my experience, they are often ostracized. But if the majority do well, I do bring in small treats for the entire class - helps with motivation!
lauhulu,
Your teaching strategies are all great and very useful. I especially like number one, teach meta-cognition; number two, listen to students; and number three, celebrate successes. Whenever one of my students gets 100 percent on a test or quiz, I make sure that I communicate it to everyone in the class. Voted up as useful and sharing.