A teacher’s job is not an easy one, regardless of how much a teacher may enjoy their job or love their students. Teaching the same subjects on a daily basis and dealing with kids who are hyperactive or constantly falling asleep in class can be quite tiring. Finding that balance between the two extremes and creating an environment in which students enjoy their studies and want to attend is quite a task. However, this is not entirely impossible.
A truly dedicated and passionate teacher constantly changes their teaching techniques so that neither the student nor teacher is bored. There are many constructive ways to engage a classroom and consequentially make homework worth doing as well.
Top 10 Tips
Curated below is a list of teacher tested ways to enlighten and have fun! Remember to use these tips in accordance to the standard of your class, age group of students and subject being taught. Do not forget that the primary objective is to teach and for the students to learn. All activities should be engaging, as well as, informative.
- Play Fun Games
- Everyone loves a good game, both adults and children. So the best idea is to incorporate games into the routine.
- For younger students, memory games to learn dates or jeopardy to learn words for vocabulary training are just a few of the games that can be played.
- Simple word games and number games can be played on the blackboard.
- Each student should be involved; if necessary call on the shy students to encourage them to move out of their shells.
- However, do not coerce or chastise them if they are too uncomfortable.
- Daily reinforcement and encouragement will eventually help them get involved.
- For slightly older students incorporate a lightening round.
- This usually lasts for only ten minutes, which about as much time as it takes for a student to get bored of an activity.
- Keep the questions brief with even briefer answers, ask the questions before asking them to answer it so that everyone has a fair chance to answer correctly, pass on to the next person but do not instil the idea that passing a question is somehow negative.
- This is good way to get them excited, even more so if you show equal enthusiasm for the game.
- For older, more mature students, a simply compiled questionnaire works well.
- Keep it short, relatively easy but challenging as well.
- Be Involved in Projects
- Set assignments that you, as a teacher, can be involved in as well.
- Creating interactive group projects or lectures can show the kids that you are learning alongside them.
- Students are generally more comfortable when they view you as some that needs to be respected but not feared.
- They lose that fear for a teacher as an authoritative figure when they see that you are willing to come down to their level.
- They are less afraid to ask questions and make mistakes since they know no one will be judging them for it.
- Create classes that are more interactive. Do not only choose those who are ready to answer, bring out students who are introverted or shy without making them feel uncomfortable.
- Use positive reinforcement to help students make an effort and progress.
- Share Passions and Jokes
- Children are more likely to make a connection with you if they are able to crack a joke with you.
- Laughing at their jokes and making some of your own will ease their tension and anxiety about tests and homework.
- Share your dreams and passion with the class. This will help them understand that you’re human too.
- While you are working on or working towards your dreams, they too will feel motivated to do the same.
- Encourage their aspirations; educate them about how they can achieve it and why diligence with homework and classwork is crucial.
- Do not be afraid to dramatize classroom lectures.
- The more open, experimental and forthcoming you are, the more fun both you and the children will have in class.
- This is just one many techniques used in “How to Inspire Children to do Their Homeworkâ€.
- Do Not Be Repetitive
- Repetition will not only bore your class but you as well.
- Review a topic that has been covered before but do not go into unnecessary detail that has already been covered.
- If one topic is taking a while to complete or is getting boring, think of new, innovative ways to teach them.
- Do not harbour on the same points for too long.
- Involve the class so that they can participate and pay attention too.
- Set homework that acts as revision but challenges their minds and skills. Not homework that is simply an overview of what has been taught in the classroom.
- Be Approachable
- Perhaps the most important tip to remember is to be approachable with kids.
- They should feel comfortable enough to approach and speak to you.
- Whether it is general chit chat at the end of the class, or doubts that need clarification, a discussion of the topic being taught or a conversation about personal problems. At the end of the day, you are an adult who they will look to for guidance and counselling.
- While being approachable, do not allow them to disrespect you.
- Do not over indulge to the point of being unethical.
- Create Group Projects
- Instead of making students do projects on their own, assign them to different groups for each assignment.
- This will push them beyond their boundaries.
- It will encourage each person to use their skills to reach the most efficient end goal.
- They will get to know each other beyond their smaller friend circles.
- Allow them to think out of the box, encourage creativity to yield the best results.
- Use Technology and the Outdoors
- We live in an age of technology, so indulge in it and use it to your advantage.
- Create colourful and lively PowerPoint projects and slideshows.
- Wherever possible, show them a relevant movie about a text they may be studying in class.
- If the indoors are getting too stuffy, take them to a park.
- Visit a museum for history projects, a science lab for experiments, or simply a zoo to learn about animals.
- The more interactive, experimental and passionate a class and its teacher is – students are more likely to pay attention, work hard and challenge themselves in a healthy environment.
Club these tips together to get the best results. For more tips people may search in different professional online websites. Remember that at the end of the day, everyone has their own way of learning and coping. It is the teachers job to do the best she can to help everyone progress with the right tools of learning.