HINTS FOR TEACHERS
taken from 30+ years of experience!
I taught Junior High and High School English for many years. I was also a Jr.-Sr. High School Principal. In those many years, I became fully aware of what works and what does not. Much of this will seem to go against the grain of modern methodology and thinking. However, it works!
I am going to do this in a listing format. I feel this is easier to read and digest. Before I do that, however, I feel it is necessary to understand just a bit about my philosophy of education.
I am a firm believer that we {teachers and administrators} are there to give EVERY MOMENT of class time to students. We are NOT there to waste one moment of the student's precious time. We are there because WE know more about the particular issue at hand than THEY know. We are hired to TEACH or ADMINISTER with fairness and compassion, but NOT TO THE EXCLUSION of ANY student. We are NOT there to be the best-dressed, best-liked, most popular, or any other such thing. We are there because we have something wonderful to offer and offer it WE MUST!
1. NEVER try to be the student's friend. Maybe that will happen in an appropriate way--but that's NOT the point of teaching. If it happens, that's nice--not important.
2. A classroom is NOT a democracy! It is an autocracy run by YOU! Students have no business making classroom decisions. You were trained to do it and are being paid to do it, so DO IT!
3. ALWAYS be totally and 100% prepared. Students spot an unprepared teacher quicker than the blink of an eye. Then you've lost them and the rest of your year with them. That's absolutely unfair to them. If you don't know your material or are uncomfortable in your knowledge of it, study it hard or GET OUT of teaching. There is no room for sloppy teaching.
4. DO NOT YELL, SCREAM, AND LOSE CONTROL. You lose your dignity. If you teach from the second the bell rings until the second class is over and if you teach SOLID, REAL MATERIAL, they will be with you. WHY will they be with you?
5. You will let them know you KNOW your stuff and you LOVE your material. They will know that because you are enthusiastic and excited to start the class, to discuss the material, to be sure they know it.
6. You will let them know you are terribly disappointed in lack of preparedness and lack of readiness to be a part of the group.
You do not make an issue of it--your body language tells them you care.
7. NEVER publicly chastise a student for poor test scores, poor preparedness, or any other knowledge-related thing. { In other words, "you stupid fool, you didn't do your work again!" is
not the right approach.!!} Take the student aside and talk to him. See if there's a reason he's not prepared. WORK WITH HIM.
8. Call on EVERY student, EVERY class period. If he knows he will be called on, he will prepare! If it's obvious you will get nothing out of him today, try to let him know on the side that you expect much more tomorrow.
9. Never give BUSY WORK--in class or out! A student knows "busy work"! Questions at the end of a chapter and canned tests are usually junk! YOU make the tests.
10. Work is due when work is due--not next period, not tomorrow.
I am fully aware of the theory that getting it in sometime and "experiencing it" is better than never. IT'S NOT! Once that starts, you'll be working all night trying to book keep on work from September. It will then be June. Students need to learn for real life. The boss does not say "Oh, that's ok. Get it in when you can. June will be fine!" TEACH THEM REALITY, not NICE GUY.
11. DRESS like an adult. It is NOT your job to be "one of the kids" or to "look with it". You are a MODEL---be one!
12. SPEAK like an adult. As above, you are the educated--speak as though you are! Do not resort to "in terms" and "hip language". You are a MODEL---be one!!!!
13. CALL PARENTS! Once a student knows that you will immediately talk to parents about lack of preparation or inappropriate behavior, the attitude changes! I promise. DO NOT threaten to do it; DO IT. Most parents truly appreciate your interest in their child. If they do not appreciate it, they still need to be kept aware. Keep notes of dates, times and conversations during parental contact. {You would be amazed how fast the word gets around school that Mr. or Ms. X is a "parent caller!"}
created 7/29/00
 
 
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