Photo By: Russ Morris
There are plenty of long-term strategies for becoming a better teacher, creating a great connection with your students or building a solid PLN are just a few. But since it’s Monday and Springtime, let’s make it easy.
Top Five Fastest Ways to Improve Your Teaching
Become a beginner.
Often as we become experts in our topic, we forget how hard it is at the beginning. Sit in on a language class, you’ll certainly feel out of your element and remember what it feels like to be a beginner.
Ask your students for feedback and listen to it.
Why wait until the very end of the year to ask them how you could do better?
Slow down and simplify your words.
Teachers often get in the bad habit of talking too quickly and too much. Slow down and eliminate any unnecessary words. This will help your students relax and focus.
Get back to baseline.
If you have a stack of papers that need to be graded, then grade them! Thinking about having to do it, is distracting you and draining energy you could be putting into teaching.
Go for an afternoon walk.
I don’t know why, but people seriously underestimate the value of a good walk. It’s a great way to clear your head and reset for the night.
Any other “quick tricks”?
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Thanks for the prompt to thinking more about this topic.
I would add:
1 Schedule time to reflect with a trusted colleague.
2 Video your instruction after you have clarified what your instructional focus is so that when you view the footage you are using the instructional focus to guide your viewing. Did I teach for the focus? Where does my practice match my intent? Did the students connect with the instructional focus? What needs to happen as a result of this session?
3 Adjust your instructional language to match the learning needs of your students.
4 Take time to step back and be clear about what is the Big Picture – what is the purpose of my instruction?
These are some of the key aspects that are guiding the work with teams in a deep reflective practice model.
Carmel
I love what you say in number two about asking if your practice matches intent. It makes more sense to try and improve one small area at a time; rather than giving yourself an overall score.
Videotape yourself teaching and watch the video. That is the quickest way to take a step back and look at ways you can improve. The next best thing is to observe another teacher.
Thanks for the idea Cathy. To be honest, I’ve never had the guts to video tape my teaching. I can barely watch my teaching game videos with out getting nervous. But, I agree, if you need a quick fix, videoing would do the trick.
I’m a bit late to add to this post, but I would definitely add that you need to take time to reflect!
I actually just posted about reflection and how important it is.
Thank you for sharing, I will definitely have to remind myself of these 5 simple strategies.
Here is my post about reflection: http://theresalwaysthemoon.blogspot.com/2011/05/reflection.html