Watch Your Tone of Voice
This goes along with the snippiness I mentioned in #31. Students read a lot into your tone of voice, whether you intend to use a certain lilt or not. You can't be sarcastic too often (but you can't be monotone either). You can't let your anger and frustration show (oh that one is tough, and you slip up, but you don't go in every day giving someone an attitude. Let them work up to a level of frustration :P).
Don't yell directly in their faces.
DO keep a low tone as often as possible. Show happiness and cheer through your words and through your tone. Let your enthusiasm to teach, and for that subject, bleed through your voice. Let them hear your compassion and understanding.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Teaching Tip #33
Be Careful with What You Say
This goes along with the previous post, but is mostly geared towards the teacher's lounge.
Students hear things, sometimes in the most peculiar ways. If you are talking about students in a negative way, they will know. If you talk about certain personal issues/things, they will know. If you talk about another staff member, they will know.
I am currently at a Catholic school. I don't believe in abortion for many reasons but one of those is my religion. I will say that.
When I was subbing at a public school, one of my students was doing a paper against abortion, except for extreme cases. I didn't let her know it was against my religion, but gave other reasons so that she could have a base for her research.
I called my computer my baby once, and a student asked me if I had a child. I showed them my ring finger (meaning I wasn't married). That let her know that I don't plan on having children before marriage.
However, I don't come out and say "No, I don't believe in sex before marriage."
I know some teachers have been admonished for talking about getting trashed over the weekend.
Just, be mindful with what you say.
This goes along with the previous post, but is mostly geared towards the teacher's lounge.
Students hear things, sometimes in the most peculiar ways. If you are talking about students in a negative way, they will know. If you talk about certain personal issues/things, they will know. If you talk about another staff member, they will know.
I am currently at a Catholic school. I don't believe in abortion for many reasons but one of those is my religion. I will say that.
When I was subbing at a public school, one of my students was doing a paper against abortion, except for extreme cases. I didn't let her know it was against my religion, but gave other reasons so that she could have a base for her research.
I called my computer my baby once, and a student asked me if I had a child. I showed them my ring finger (meaning I wasn't married). That let her know that I don't plan on having children before marriage.
However, I don't come out and say "No, I don't believe in sex before marriage."
I know some teachers have been admonished for talking about getting trashed over the weekend.
Just, be mindful with what you say.
Teaching Tip #32
Don't Overshare
There is a time for honesty, and a time to keep your mouth shut. I had a teacher, sophomore year of high school, who told us about the three men she was dating, but how she liked one of them more. We (and by we, I mean my classmates - I never paid attention) knew her birthday, the car she drove, the school she went to, etc.
She was a nice person, but not the greatest teacher.
I do not give out my age to my students. I am too young, too close to their age, and I don't want to lose that respect. Recognizing my car is fine and knowing my birthday is not a problem. I also let them know the college I went to, especially because some of them want to go there.
They do know I have a boyfriend, but that is because he's come to events with me. Before that, I didn't share that information.
In the teacher's lounge even, don't talk about major home problems you may not want students to know, your sex life, your address, what you think about controversial issues (unless it's a part of the school or curriculum), or anything like that. It's worse these days with the internet - you don't want certain people to know certain things about you. Think of your students as people with the world at their fingertips.
There is a time for honesty, and a time to keep your mouth shut. I had a teacher, sophomore year of high school, who told us about the three men she was dating, but how she liked one of them more. We (and by we, I mean my classmates - I never paid attention) knew her birthday, the car she drove, the school she went to, etc.
She was a nice person, but not the greatest teacher.
I do not give out my age to my students. I am too young, too close to their age, and I don't want to lose that respect. Recognizing my car is fine and knowing my birthday is not a problem. I also let them know the college I went to, especially because some of them want to go there.
They do know I have a boyfriend, but that is because he's come to events with me. Before that, I didn't share that information.
In the teacher's lounge even, don't talk about major home problems you may not want students to know, your sex life, your address, what you think about controversial issues (unless it's a part of the school or curriculum), or anything like that. It's worse these days with the internet - you don't want certain people to know certain things about you. Think of your students as people with the world at their fingertips.
Teaching Tip #31
Be Honest
Even younger students can sense if you're not being honest with them. The older students, especially in "worse" districts, won't take any sugar-coated lies you may give them.
Let them know what the consequences will be...and follow through.
Explain to them the purpose of assignments.
For Example: "UGH! Ms. xxx, we have SO MANY quizzes in your class! Can we not?"
"Well, do you want to go to the test without knowing, without me knowing, how well you understand the material? This way I can tell if we need to go over more."
"Oh. That makes sense." *sighs* "I still don't like it."
Explain to them the actual purpose of the assignment, so that they're aware of just why you expect them to do certain work.
Let them know how they're performing in your class.
Don't bend the grades. Oh yes, they would like you to do this, but don't.
Tell them if you're having a bad day. If appropriate, let them know why. They will see you as being more human and it will help them not take it personally if you get a bit snippy with them. (Just, you know, don't get too snippy).
If you know you're going to be absent, let them know.
Even younger students can sense if you're not being honest with them. The older students, especially in "worse" districts, won't take any sugar-coated lies you may give them.
Let them know what the consequences will be...and follow through.
Explain to them the purpose of assignments.
For Example: "UGH! Ms. xxx, we have SO MANY quizzes in your class! Can we not?"
"Well, do you want to go to the test without knowing, without me knowing, how well you understand the material? This way I can tell if we need to go over more."
"Oh. That makes sense." *sighs* "I still don't like it."
Explain to them the actual purpose of the assignment, so that they're aware of just why you expect them to do certain work.
Let them know how they're performing in your class.
Don't bend the grades. Oh yes, they would like you to do this, but don't.
Tell them if you're having a bad day. If appropriate, let them know why. They will see you as being more human and it will help them not take it personally if you get a bit snippy with them. (Just, you know, don't get too snippy).
If you know you're going to be absent, let them know.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Teaching Tip #30
Use Graphic Organizers
Graphic organizers are especially useful when focusing on differentiation, but they're a great tool to teach students how to organize topics.
There are the basic organizers:
- Flow Chart - where the information stems from one or two main topics and may connect to one another.
- Web Chart - where the information spreads from one main topic and may not connect with one another (can be known as a cluster web)
- Venn Diagram - where the information overlaps in areas
- Table - where information is set under a few main ideas/topics
As a math (and science) teacher, I've used those four, but have been exposed to others.
This website provides many examples and blank templates for a variety of graphic organizers. And, as it's through Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (which seems to own every single textbook ever created due to company mergers and buying out others - because they're linked to Holt McDougal [Littell/ Larson]), they're a great resource to keep.
Graphic organizers are especially useful when focusing on differentiation, but they're a great tool to teach students how to organize topics.
There are the basic organizers:
- Flow Chart - where the information stems from one or two main topics and may connect to one another.
- Web Chart - where the information spreads from one main topic and may not connect with one another (can be known as a cluster web)
- Venn Diagram - where the information overlaps in areas
- Table - where information is set under a few main ideas/topics
As a math (and science) teacher, I've used those four, but have been exposed to others.
This website provides many examples and blank templates for a variety of graphic organizers. And, as it's through Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (which seems to own every single textbook ever created due to company mergers and buying out others - because they're linked to Holt McDougal [Littell/ Larson]), they're a great resource to keep.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Teaching tip #29
Get The Students Out of the Classroom
I don't mean to take them out on the roof, but again, do something a bit different. If you're teaching science, do a lab outside. Collaborate with another teacher (if possible) and have your classes do a project together. Take advantage of the library/media center/computer lab (whatever your school has to offer) and get the student doing research - papers, PowerPoints, Excel documents....
These things should (of course) be relevant to your class and the topics you're teaching, but like I mentioned in my last post, doing something out of the norm will hopefully spark something in them that will allow them to remember the topic and class.
I don't mean to take them out on the roof, but again, do something a bit different. If you're teaching science, do a lab outside. Collaborate with another teacher (if possible) and have your classes do a project together. Take advantage of the library/media center/computer lab (whatever your school has to offer) and get the student doing research - papers, PowerPoints, Excel documents....
These things should (of course) be relevant to your class and the topics you're teaching, but like I mentioned in my last post, doing something out of the norm will hopefully spark something in them that will allow them to remember the topic and class.
Teaching Tip #28
Get The Students Out of Their Seats
Students don't want to sit there all period and be taught to and I'm sure you don't want to stand there and teach for 40-90 minutes. Get them up and doing work on the board, allow them to move seats into groups - and shoot, give THEM the opportunity to teach sometimes! Activities are great no matter the age nor the class, and doing something different means that they'll be more apt to remember your class - and the work they did in it.
Students don't want to sit there all period and be taught to and I'm sure you don't want to stand there and teach for 40-90 minutes. Get them up and doing work on the board, allow them to move seats into groups - and shoot, give THEM the opportunity to teach sometimes! Activities are great no matter the age nor the class, and doing something different means that they'll be more apt to remember your class - and the work they did in it.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Teaching Tip #27
Keep Your Room a Safe Haven
Set the rules from the start: no bullying, no dissing others' answers, allow for mistakes, etc. If students feel safe in your room, they will safe around you and with each other.
Set the rules from the start: no bullying, no dissing others' answers, allow for mistakes, etc. If students feel safe in your room, they will safe around you and with each other.
Teaching Tip #26
Keep Your Eye on Time
Glance at the clock every so often, but not as if you're waiting for the period to end. You don't want the bell to ring mid-example or to run out of time with the notes. You want some sort of closure (which I'm not the greatest at, but working very hard on incorporating more often), and you don't want to be shouting the HW over the bell. Such inconsistencies will make the students AND you feel rushed. It also reflects poorly on your style, and shows that you're trying to force too much into one class.
Glance at the clock every so often, but not as if you're waiting for the period to end. You don't want the bell to ring mid-example or to run out of time with the notes. You want some sort of closure (which I'm not the greatest at, but working very hard on incorporating more often), and you don't want to be shouting the HW over the bell. Such inconsistencies will make the students AND you feel rushed. It also reflects poorly on your style, and shows that you're trying to force too much into one class.
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