8 Tips For Becoming A Better Teacher

A teacher plays an important role in students’ continuous growth and development. 80% of students claim they had a teacher who inspired them to pursue their dreams. But how do you hone your teaching acumen to create a lifelong difference in your students’ lives? 

Whether you are a seasoned instructor or have just joined the system, constantly working on your teaching expertise is the key to success as an educator. Establishing an impactful learning environment for your students means you must explore innovative teaching approaches. This blog sheds some light on the practical way to become a better teacher:

1. Figure out your process

Determine what teaching style you’d use to engage with students. Traditional classrooms have five distinct teaching methods including authority, delegator, facilitator, and others. You must find which teaching style fits you best and aligns with your teaching objectives. Your teaching method can be teacher-focused, student-led, or collaboration-driven. Every method has its pros and cons. So, you can always switch between these styles when instructing different classrooms.

Never adopt a teaching style that doesn’t reflect your personality to your students.

2. Hone your teaching skills

The ever-changing field of education requires educators to keep updating their skills. Constant learning is necessary to stay abreast of new teaching methods and latest pedagogical trends. Online learning lets educators pursue professional development flexibly at their preferred pace.

You need to gain an MA in education and find valuable accredited NCATE online programs in your state to advance your knowledge and become better skilled at handling a classroom. These programs make you eligible for certification in all 50 states. When getting your master’s degree in education remotely, you can choose among different available concentrations. 

3. Know your students 

To become an outstanding teacher, you must understand your student’s strengths and weaknesses. This can be done by becoming familiar with every student and connecting with them properly. You may start by learning the names of all students and a little bit about their family background. Ask about the stuff they are interested in as well as their likes and dislikes. Use all this information to know what kind of learners they are and how you can connect to them for a superior educational experience.

This exercise routine will make your students feel valued, listened to, and welcomed. This is how you’ll personalize the learning experience for every student and enhance information retention. It may seem hard to offer a personalized experience to a class of students. However, personalization won’t be a challenge when you’re familiar with your students.

4. Become a role model

For many students, their teachers are positive role models who inspire them to become better versions of themselves. Educators succeed in getting their message across when students trust them and feel motivated by them. That’s why you need to gain your students’ trust by treating them fairly. You should avoid using bitter comments and harsh language when communicating with them. Don’t yell at your students or belittle them. There’s no shame in using “please” and “thanks” when talking to students.

Value and respect your students. Let them express themselves freely in your class. Embrace a friendly demeanor when engaging with them. Vigilantly watch out for bullying and other forms of harassment.

5. Make yourself approachable

A teacher’s success lies in being easily accessible for academic assistance. Don’t make students feel as if you’re too busy to listen to their concerns. Give them a chance to contact you and talk to you about whatever is bothering them. Most importantly, encourage students to ask as many questions as they want. Even in the classroom, make yourself approachable for any academic discussions.

A study shows that 62% of students avoid asking questions because they fear others will judge them. They don’t want to look ignorant in front of their peers in the classroom. Herein lies a teacher’s job to make the classroom a safe space where anyone can ask questions without hesitation. 

6. Ask for students’ feedback

Getting student feedback is necessary to be a great teacher. A teacher needs to gather students’ honest feedback to get familiar with any areas of improvement. You can send out a survey where students can respond to different questions regarding their lessons and give their fair assessment of your teaching expertise. You can use this survey to hone your skills as an educator. Some questions you might want to include in your questionnaire are:

• Did you enjoy my class?
• Is there any topic you found difficult?
• What do you want to change in my class?
• What was your favorite topic of discussion?

7. Collaborate with your colleagues

Collaborate with other professional educators to gain relevant insights from their experiences. You can get unique ideas, quality resources, and best practices by working in conjunction with other teachers. Participate in professional learning communities and constantly upgrade your knowledge by reading pedagogical magazines or attending education seminars. Get a mentor to help you hone your skills as well as learn how to keep a classroom engaged.

Seeking guidance from your peers and superiors is a surefire way to boost your instructional acumen. It lets you see things from another perspective and keeps your skills fresh.

8. Use relevant visual aids

It’s a no-brainer that using visual aids can help students learn better. Most folks are visual learners, i.e., they learn things better by seeing them. Studies show that two-thirds of people retain visual information efficiently; they remember the most by looking at pictures and illustrations. This means that a student requires visual stimulation to retain extensive information.

So, you should incorporate these visual media in your lessons. Leverage YouTube videos that explain a lot of complex stuff via animation to bolster information retention.

Conclusion

An inspiring educator can increase student engagement, improve information retention, and turn students into valuable members of society. You need to know your students, make yourself approachable, and give every student a personalized learning experience to become a great tutor. Work on your teaching skills by pursuing online programs. Collaborate with your colleagues and figure out your instructional method. Use quality visual aids to get your message across, and don’t forget to ask for feedback. Following the tips mentioned above can help you become a better educator.