MY UNIQUE TEACHING METHODOLOGY
I as an educator know that student engagement is the key to learning retention and having a great overall classroom experience. With changing times, education requires adaptation and evolution. Students are not as easily captivated as before by simple colorful animations in textbooks and monotonous songs to correlate with learned concepts. Crafting an environment that is holistic and effective is vital for student learning.
Not all students learn the same way, but all can be encouraged to participate actively in the classroom to build new knowledge. Creativity is vital for a classroom to be successful. As students' interests expand and diversify, so do the teaching techniques and styles. The following are some of the innovative methods I use to engage students in my class.
1. I start my class with a ‘Mind Warm-Up’.
A warm-up method that I use is to ask students to find the mistakes planted in material written on the board. I use a mix of collaboration and competition to eliminate what could potentially become dead time.
2. I use ‘Movement’ to get students focused.
I ask all students to stand behind their desks and join in simple choreographed physical movement. Because most kids find it invigorating and it's easy to monitor full participation, it is one of my favorite ways to get kids focused. For example, I teach hand-clapping patterns to accompany a chanted verse. I also add foot stomping to create variety.
3. Students learn better when engaged.
Engagement is a crucial part of instruction. Students who are more engaged often have more favorable learning outcomes. I have interactive classroom discussions. For example, after a short lecture, I encourage students to share stories related to the content.
Engaging students with activities helps them to think more critically about the content they are learning. Activities allow students to connect differing pieces of information, build upon new knowledge, evoke questions and apply new information to real world circumstances through application. Having students participate in class activities motivates them and gives worth and significance to classroom instruction.
4. I use technology to boost learning.
Technology in the classroom can be an advanced and effective learning tool. By using technology in teaching-learning, I am able to go beyond the paper, pencil and textbook and connect with students on an authentic level. I use smart board in the teaching-learning process. I also use creative multimedia tools for imparting the lessons. For example, I record the rhymes and songs and send it across to the parents through WhatsApp and the students can hear my recorded voice and learn the rhymes and songs anywhere, any time.
I plan ‘Showtime’ in the classroom and play videos that enhance teaching. Video stimulates and engages students creating interest and maintaining that interest for longer periods of time, and it provides an innovative and effective means for me to address and deliver the required curriculum content.
5. I use storytelling as a powerful method to impart knowledge, values and life skills.
Stories serve as one of the most important educational and inspirational tools. Being a teacher definitely involves acting and theatrics and I use interactive story telling as a part of my lesson plan to make it more powerful. It is an authentic activity that motivated students. I invite children from the audience to act out the story as I tell it. I sometimes dress in costumes of storybook characters to leave a lasting impression, or let students dress up as characters with funny masks, headgears and other props, and they follow the instructions in the story and repeat the dialogue I say. I stop and start the story a lot, asking the students to contribute sound effects, to answer questions and to make suggestions. Storytelling enhances the community in the classroom and improves listening skills.
6. I work on classroom ambiance.
I turn my classroom into the environment of what I am teaching. For example, when the class is learning about fairy tales, I turn my classroom into a castle. When the students are learning about animals, I turn my classroom into a jungle.
7. Teaching with sense of humour
Humour is an effective medium of teaching. Everyone loves a teacher with an infectious sense of humor. Looking at the lighter side of life fosters cordial relations between the teacher and students. The students aren’t afraid to be silly and can laugh at their own mistakes.
8. I mix up my teaching styles
To keep students involved and on their toes, I try to move from teacher-centered learning to student-centered active learning, and vice versa. I vary my teaching styles depending on the nature of the subject matter, the phase of the course, and other factors. By so doing, I encourage and inspire students to do their best at all times.
9. I create teamwork tactics that emphasize accountability
My classroom doesn’t have to be a solo learning adventure. It can also be a collaborative learning environment. I include some teamwork exercises in my weekly curriculum. These group activities can be beneficial on a personal, group and class-wide level. For students to achieve a comprehensive, well-rounded education, integrated teamwork on several fronts is vital. Another benefit is that teamwork teaches interpersonal skills.
10. I encourage self-directed learning
A supportive learning environment helps children take risks and dive into subject matter that may seem overwhelming to them. Students are more likely to remain focused and interested if they recognize their progress and are reinforced along the way. When young students are empowered to push themselves at their own pace, they’re more likely to remain enthusiastic about the experience. Self-directed learning that is aligned with appropriate classroom goals helps students feel involved in their education.
I everyday strive to make every single student in my class feel special and work to reinforce the essential value of empathy in them. I make time for creativity and use it to make learning fun. As a result, my classroom is a happy place to be.
