Tip 98: New Learning Opportunities
Everything is a learning opportunity, so explore new topics and activities. We are constantly growing in life and we should use that as a resource for our teaching. So, if you learn something new, if you try out something, share that with your students if that can help them with whatever you’re trying to convey to them. Use your life and the things that you learn in your classroom because that is an authentic way of teaching. When students see that the material comes from your life and how you’re sharing your knowledge with them, they will appreciate it more. Try to use these ideas from your life, use them in your teaching and that will help students to understand it from your point of view.
Tip 99: Nonverbal Communication
Use hand signals and other nonverbal communication in class. Learners will quickly get to know your eye contact and expressions. Sometimes you don’t want to talk loudly to your students rather, use hand signals or expressions if possible. For example, if you want them to quiet down, you can show them five fingers, meaning that they have five seconds to quiet down and pay attention to you. Or, you can use eye contact when someone’s doing something that they’re not supposed to, just give them ‘the look’. Students will get to know that look and realize, “I’m going to be in trouble if I continue doing this.”
You can also use expressions. If you’re excited, if you’re interested, or if you’re displeased, students will pick up on it. Instead of being loud and using your words may be a better approach is to use nonverbal communication so that you don’t get the entire class involved and you can just work with one student or a small group.
Tip 100: Be Consistent
Be consistent in everything. Be authoritative, not authoritarian. Be firm, but flexible. Students are looking up to you as a teacher to provide them with stability and, by being consistent in how you behave, in the way that you teach, and in how you treat other people, the trust in you will grow. So be an authority figure, but don’t be an authoritarian. Be firm but flexible where you can be. That way, students will trust you and do better to earn your trust. Your colleagues will trust you too.
Okay, everyone. I hope these 100 teaching tips helped you. I had a great time writing them down and sharing some ideas. Obviously, there are so many parts to being a good teacher that I might have missed. I hope these 100 ideas can help you in your road to become a better teacher.