Successful Teaching

Being a successful teacher requires preparation, knowledge, flexibility, compassion and an understanding of student’s needs as well as an ability to use a variety of teaching styles within the classroom. I had a lot of trouble categorizing these items because to me each of these are equally important in a classroom and should not take precedence over one another. If one becomes more important than the others may suffer so it is extremely important to use all of these categories in an equal manner. However, the two categories that I feel are extremely important are understanding the student’s strengths and weaknesses and being able to utilize a variety of teaching styles. Each student varies in their abilities, there type of learning and in their effort. While one student might struggle with math, another may excel. However, if when you teach you only address the students that do well with social studies, the struggling students will fall further and further back. In addition, if you only address the students who are struggling, then the students who are excelling will be bored and held back from further learning. Each student is unique in their strengths and weaknesses because each student is different. As a teacher, it is important to address EVERY student in the classroom. There should always be work of varying levels such as additional complex work that challenges the students who are excelling in the subject, and simpler work for students who are struggling, as well as extra help offered. It is almost impossible to have each student be on the same level in a subject so it is crucial to provide the appropriate material for varying abilities. In addition, using a variety of teaching styles can reach all different types of learners. I have worked with students that learn from reading, ones that learn from watching, and with others that learn the best with hands-on experiences. If you somehow incorporate different learning styles into your instruction of a lesson, it can help ensure that the majority of the students will be taught in the way they learn best. This will maximize the success of the student’s learning and will include all different students. Another important category is preparation. Preparation is so important because if the teacher is not prepared, how can they expect the student to be prepared. The teacher should be ready for the day or week and know what will be taught and how in order to help the students. If a teacher is unorganized or unprepared then a chaotic atmosphere develops in the classroom. This wouldn’t be good because the students wouldn’t know that to do or when to do it, and if the teacher doesn’t either than time can be wasted when students should really be learning.

 

The next category is flexibility. Flexibility and Adaptability in the classroom are two important qualities that every teacher must possess. As a teacher is important to be flexible and to know that your plans can change very quickly, sometimes with notice and sometimes without. No one can predict the day in a classroom because you can’t predict what 20 something students may do or act that day. Things change on the spot in the classroom and a teacher needs to be able to adjust to those changes and work with them at any time. If you’re not able to accommodate and adjust to changes than it may become hard to give students a learning experience that they deserve. There is only so much you can prepare, but you need to always account for any changes or altercations and be able to work with them to accommodate the class.  Finally the last two are compassion and knowledge. Compassion is important because students need this as an important foundation with a teacher especially when they are younger. Let’s face it, no one ever liked the teacher who wasn’t sympathetic or considerate in situations. Being compassionate can help develop a closer student-teacher relationship. I feel that students always do better in classes when they feel as if they can go to their teacher for questions or help and if the teacher is understanding. Students won’t approach for help if the teacher is not kind and compassionate. Finally the last important category is knowledge. It is vital for teachers to have knowledge in the concepts and lessons they are teaching because if they are not knowledgeable they might be teaching the students the wrong information. In addition, if the students ask questions, the teacher should be able to answer them without researching. The more knowledge that the teacher has about the topic, the more it will reflect on his/her teaching and in addition the students will learn more. Also, students can detect confidence and teachers should present the information to the students will full confidence to give them a better platform for learning.