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Firstly, HAPPY NEW YEAR! I’m sure you’ve made plenty of personal resolutions. I’ve made some myself (whether I achieve those or not… is another story).
As a teacher, however, I do plan to change how I do things in the classroom (within reason). We can always improve ourselves in both our personal and professional lives. As I’ve scoured the web for tips and tricks to try out this year, there are a few I’d like to share with you all.
5 Things To Practice In Your Classroom This Year
- Practice patience – While this might seem easy to do, it’s not. Kids, parents, administrators, everybody pushes buttons and the stress of the workplace builds. This year, before getting angry, count to ten slowly and breathe. I’m sure I’ve said this before, but it need repeating.
- Practice consistency – It’s important to set up a daily routine, and stick to it. Students should know what is expected of them, and what happens when they do not follow the classroom/school guidelines.
- Learn from the past– It’s important to evaluate yourself and methods, and see what can be improved and what you can continue to use. Talk with coworkers and administrators for suggestions and remember to not take criticism personally.
- Get moving! – Kids need to move and get tired from sitting all day. So, spice up your lesson by playing a movement game (such as “Simon Says”) in the middle of class. Kids’ attitudes and attention spans perk up, and class is much more enjoyable (and manageable).
- Encourage more student involvement – Too often classes end up being the teacher talking and students listening, and not involved. If students don’t feel involved in the lesson, they become disruptive or inattentive. An easy fix is to assign students (groups or individual) tasks. Maybe one student has to write the objectives on the board. Perhaps another student can pass out worksheets, pencils, etc. Whatever you choose to do, makes students feel empowered and in-control of their learning.
These are just five tips I like. If you have any more, please share them in the comments section. I’d love to read them!
So, You Think You Can Teach ESL? 