Delivering quality professional development & resources for teachers
Make the most of all the time you have with your students and show that you value their time by being prepared with tasks, resources and work that is meaningful and relevant. Don’t waste time on trivial activities, busy work and fillers. Make every moment count! Have high expectations.
Here are 4 ways to implement differentiation in your classroom.
Here are 8 teaching strategies you can try to stop your students from being bored
Teachers talk 80% of the day Ask 150-200 questions Most are process based, requiring little analysis or relationships Teachers allow approximately 3 seconds to respond
Relationships are at the heart of all we do as teachers. Knowing how to build positive relationships with students is a cornerstone teaching skill. If you think back to the teachers you had who really influenced you in a positive way and had an impact on your learning you will probably not remember the content of what they taught you. What you will remember is the way they treated you, how you felt in their class and the types of interactions you had. Here are 13 great ways to build positive relationships with your students.
We cannot control another person’s behaviour, but when we change what we do, we can increase the likelihood that students will do what we want. Here are the top 11 mistakes teachers make with behaviour management.
School is a social environment and student learning is dependent on relationships. It is important for students to get along with each other as well as build relationships with teachers. Positive, supportive relationships are essential, because students need to feel safe to make mistakes within the learning environment
Read about our top 10 evidence-based teaching strategies to better behaviour management in the classroom
If I told you there was a research-based, well proven strategy that was low cost, took little time and energy to implement that would greatly improve student concentration, focus and achievement, would you do it? The answer seems pretty obvious, yet the approach may be controversial and challenge your long held beliefs and attitudes.
If you consider problem behaviour as a lack of skill, in much the same way students may lack literacy or numeracy skills, this can give you clues as to the most effective approach:
Have you ever heard your name called so often in class you threatened to change your name just so no one could call on you? Teaching your students alternative ways of accessing your attention will contribute to smooth running of the classroom, help manage behaviour problems and save your sanity! Teach and model non-verbal ways of communicating to your students.
While as educated adults we know that to lead a healthy lifestyle we should drink less red wine, eat less chocolate, exercise regularly and have plenty of sleep, we don’t always do it! That’s because we are all continually developing our self-regulation skills. Your students are the same. They may know what to do, but lack the self-regulation skills to always act appropriately.
Do you stay awake at night racking your brain for more effective ways to engage your students, dealing with students with varying needs, make the learning more enjoyable and relevant and help the struggling student?
I recently read an article about the current Bridezilla phenomenon. The American documentary series of the same name explores what happens to seemingly ‘normal’ girls once they are planning a wedding- on the TV show they often become uncontrollable, bullying, emotional and use whatever means necessary to get what they want. All this to plan what is supposed to be the happiest day of their lives!!
To get the most out of your students, it is important that you get the most out of yourself first. You can do this by modelling high standards in your lesson preparation.
How well you listen can impact your relationships greatly. Here are 6 areas where better listening can create a shift in your effectiveness in and out of the classroom.
Much off task behaviour and disruption could be prevented through the use of relevant, engaging curriculum and interesting pedagogy. If you consider how long you can sit still in a meeting or professional development and remain focused it is not that difficult to understand why students can be off task and unmotivated.
A technology teacher at one of our workshops raised an ongoing issue he was having with students who don’t bring appropriate clothing to his subject. This is a safety concern as well as a behaviour issue - students cannot participate in the lesson without correct footwear. This makes extra work for the teacher, taking him away from the rest of the class while he finds work for these students and manages their behaviour.
It might be easy to manage with one difficult behaviour in the classroom, but when there are many, what do you do? Try these 11 practical and specific teaching strategies
Have you ever taught a student who made you dread going to class? The student who won't engage no matter what you do? Who made you wait expectantly for the bell at the end of the lesson even more eagerly than the students? I know I have! A student who won't engage with the learning, who refuses to follow directions, who disrupts the class and with whom you feel you cannot connect can really undermine your confidence. Don’t despair. There are ways to relieve your stress levels and improve the situation.