Everyone knows our society is relying more and more on technology. Our students need to know how to use it for their benefit in the future. Schools are becoming more equipped for this task by adding more computers and making technology advancements in the classroom. Teachers should make sure to take time to let students learn about all the good things technology has to offer to their learning. They need to learn how to type and use the internet as a research tool. However, teachers must teach them what is appropriate material to use for researching and what is illegitimate.
I think Google Docs is a great tool to teach students to use. Below is a video that describes why:
Nurturing a Student's Interests
Every child has something that makes them tick and as teachers we should figure out what that is for each of our students and allow them to explore this in their classroom. A good way to do this is to allow free time every so often and let the students decide what they would like to read about, research, or experiment with on their own time. You much have a large selection of books and resource to harbor this. Use virtual field trips to learn about other countries or wildlife or sea life, etc. Self-education is something we start very early in life and we should teach our children to continue this so they never stop learning.
Teaching for Mastery
Teaching for mastery is a part of classroom management and effective teaching. Remember to use your time wisely. Allocated time is the total time a student is given for learning: the school year. Instructional time is the time that a teacher is teaching and engaged time is the time a student is involved in a task. Academic learning time is the time that the teacher can prove a student learned the content or mastered the skill. An effective teacher knows how to increase academic learning time by designing the lesson plan so that students will know what to do, work hard, and successfully complete the task. To increase the time for learning, the teacher should have an assignment posted daily for the students to starts when they enter the classroom. Next, the teacher should teach procedures and routines to minimize interruptions and she should constantly monitor students to keep them on task. Choose the right assignments to maximize learning and explain what the assignment is and what the students should be able to do after the lesson is complete. The students are constantly aware of what they are doing and why they are doing it and the teacher provides feedback on the student's progress. All effective assignments must be clear and precise. The assignment should have a consistent format and posted daily in the same location of the classroom. Also, the assignment must be presented simply and clearly. Remember that children can easily become burned out if you teach just for a test. Keep learning interesting and make sure they all PRACTICE! Practice is the key to mastering the lesson. Don’t let you students forget everything you just said tomorrow. 
Being an Effective Teacher
Because all people are different, then all teachers are different. Each one brings something unique into the classroom. I believe very strongly that all teachers should strive to be effective in their classroom. To be an effective teacher means the teacher has high expectations, knows how to manage a classroom, and teaches a lesson for mastery.
Teaching with high expectations is very important in the success of a classroom. Positive expectations do not stop at just expecting students to do their best, but to have a positive attitude and make your students feel welcome in the classroom. The teacher should have the ability to invite students and colleagues into their classroom to learn. The teacher should make everyone feel welcome with attentiveness and enthusiasm to influence a student's attitude and chance for learning.
The next characteristic an effective teacher has is to have a well-managed classroom. There are so many aspects to this characteristic, but they are all very important for a smooth running classroom. In classroom management a teacher organizes students, space, time, and materials to have a classroom that facilitates learning. The effective teacher establishes routines and procedures the very first day of class. These routines are to maximize the organization of the classroom so that things run smoothly throughout the day. Another characteristic of a well-manage classroom is that the room is clean and organized. The materials in the classroom are easily accessible to the students and the teacher is always knowledgeable and capable of helping the students. The effective teacher has her well-managed students always engaged academically, the students always know what is expected of them, disruptions are kept to a minimum and little time is wasted, the classroom has a climate that is work-oriented but the students are relaxed and at ease. A work-oriented and predictable classroom is the best classroom for the students to succeed and accel. The effective teacher always has her classroom ready by have work (books, papers, assignments and materials) ready by the time the bell rings. Also, she has the room situatuate for working and the teacher herself is also ready with a warm and positive attitude. By having the classroom ready, an effective teacher has the work area, student area, wall space, and the bookcases all ready before class starts. Along with these areas of the classroom, the teacher area is also prepared and ready for success at the start of the day. Not only is the teacher's attitude important throughout the school year, but it is also important even before the first day of class. A teacher's reputation decides how student will come into the classroom. It is important for the teacher to send letters to the parents and students before school starts. Let the parents know you are looking forward to being their child's teacher and explain what you expect in your classroom. In the students’ letter, welcome the students and let them know who you are. Give them permission to call you if they have questions and help them prepare for the new school year. Other effective procedures a teacher performs are having the correct method of taking roll and maintaining appropriate grading records. Next, the teacher has an appropriate discipline plan with rules to set limits and consequences to back up the rules. Also, the teacher knows how to discipline without stopping the lesson. The teacher has administrative support and parental support in discipline and knows when to give positive or negative consequences. She always has the plan of the punishment must fit the crime. An effective teacher knows that classroom management also consists of having the appropriate classroom procedures that are explained clearly the first day of school and are practiced and rehearsed until perfected. The procedures are practiced and reinforced with feedback and praised once they are performed acceptably.
Teaching with high expectations is very important in the success of a classroom. Positive expectations do not stop at just expecting students to do their best, but to have a positive attitude and make your students feel welcome in the classroom. The teacher should have the ability to invite students and colleagues into their classroom to learn. The teacher should make everyone feel welcome with attentiveness and enthusiasm to influence a student's attitude and chance for learning.
The next characteristic an effective teacher has is to have a well-managed classroom. There are so many aspects to this characteristic, but they are all very important for a smooth running classroom. In classroom management a teacher organizes students, space, time, and materials to have a classroom that facilitates learning. The effective teacher establishes routines and procedures the very first day of class. These routines are to maximize the organization of the classroom so that things run smoothly throughout the day. Another characteristic of a well-manage classroom is that the room is clean and organized. The materials in the classroom are easily accessible to the students and the teacher is always knowledgeable and capable of helping the students. The effective teacher has her well-managed students always engaged academically, the students always know what is expected of them, disruptions are kept to a minimum and little time is wasted, the classroom has a climate that is work-oriented but the students are relaxed and at ease. A work-oriented and predictable classroom is the best classroom for the students to succeed and accel. The effective teacher always has her classroom ready by have work (books, papers, assignments and materials) ready by the time the bell rings. Also, she has the room situatuate for working and the teacher herself is also ready with a warm and positive attitude. By having the classroom ready, an effective teacher has the work area, student area, wall space, and the bookcases all ready before class starts. Along with these areas of the classroom, the teacher area is also prepared and ready for success at the start of the day. Not only is the teacher's attitude important throughout the school year, but it is also important even before the first day of class. A teacher's reputation decides how student will come into the classroom. It is important for the teacher to send letters to the parents and students before school starts. Let the parents know you are looking forward to being their child's teacher and explain what you expect in your classroom. In the students’ letter, welcome the students and let them know who you are. Give them permission to call you if they have questions and help them prepare for the new school year. Other effective procedures a teacher performs are having the correct method of taking roll and maintaining appropriate grading records. Next, the teacher has an appropriate discipline plan with rules to set limits and consequences to back up the rules. Also, the teacher knows how to discipline without stopping the lesson. The teacher has administrative support and parental support in discipline and knows when to give positive or negative consequences. She always has the plan of the punishment must fit the crime. An effective teacher knows that classroom management also consists of having the appropriate classroom procedures that are explained clearly the first day of school and are practiced and rehearsed until perfected. The procedures are practiced and reinforced with feedback and praised once they are performed acceptably.
Classroom Management
Classroom Management is the key to students’ success. With disruptions throughout the day and poor management from the teacher, how are students supposed to learn? I have found that The First Days of School by Harry Wong (pictured on the right)is a great resource for getting and keeping your class in control.
Classroom management is a broad term that covers many aspects in a classroom. It is not just about how your students behave. Classroom management entails simple things like transition from one task to another, to more importantly, being an effective teacher and how much your students achieve. I found a great website with any kind of classroom management solutions you may need.
Click here to access the website.
Building a Classroom Community
All students should feel safe and free from judgment when they’re at school. It is the teacher’s duty to make sure that the students feel they can speak up when they have a question. I remember what it was like in school when I wanted to ask something but I was afraid of being laughed at because I didn’t understand. Students should be able to talk to their teacher and should get along with their classmates.
I believe a good way to do ensure this happens is to perform “ice-breakers” during the first week of class. These small activities can make a world of difference in the classroom. Start will games like a new friend scavenger hunt where the students are given a sheet of paper with a list of facts and the student have to sign off on the fact that is true for them. For example, the first detail to the list can say “Born in February” and a student that is born in February can sign his classmates’ papers. This is a good way for the students to get to know each other.
Building a strong classroom community also consists of good character from the students. Let the students know from the beginning that teasing, name-calling, and saying hurtful things will not be tolerated. All of the students must be kind and respectful to each other to have a good community. Not only is this important among the students, but the teacher must have a good relationship with her students as well. The student need to know that you love, not just like, them all. They should feel safe in your classroom and know that even if they think no one else does, you care.
A teacher should be warm and invite their students into their classroom. The room should feel inviting also, with an appropriate welcome sign outside the door, a smiling teacher, living plants, comfortable furniture, and more. A teacher should make everyone in their classroom feel important and cared for, and do this everyday. There are five significant concepts to make each child feel invited into a classroom: address each student by name, say 'please', say 'thank you', smile, and make every child feel loved. These concepts are important to display everyday. Realize that a students name is precious and personal, and the teacher should take great care to pronounce it correctly and not allow students to make fun of each other's names. The word 'please' is powerful because of the mannerism behind it. Well mannered and polite people use 'please' and it is important to repeat this word to have students use it everyday. Along with please comes 'thank you'. The two phrases go hand-in-hand. Whenever a student completes a task or does something nice, it should be followed with 'thank you'. To make this phrase more powerful, follow it with the person's name. Wear a smile in your classroom. Not an over-the-top the smile, but one that is noticed and let's students know you care. The love they receive in a classroom may be all they receive that day or any day.
I believe a good way to do ensure this happens is to perform “ice-breakers” during the first week of class. These small activities can make a world of difference in the classroom. Start will games like a new friend scavenger hunt where the students are given a sheet of paper with a list of facts and the student have to sign off on the fact that is true for them. For example, the first detail to the list can say “Born in February” and a student that is born in February can sign his classmates’ papers. This is a good way for the students to get to know each other.
Building a strong classroom community also consists of good character from the students. Let the students know from the beginning that teasing, name-calling, and saying hurtful things will not be tolerated. All of the students must be kind and respectful to each other to have a good community. Not only is this important among the students, but the teacher must have a good relationship with her students as well. The student need to know that you love, not just like, them all. They should feel safe in your classroom and know that even if they think no one else does, you care.
A teacher should be warm and invite their students into their classroom. The room should feel inviting also, with an appropriate welcome sign outside the door, a smiling teacher, living plants, comfortable furniture, and more. A teacher should make everyone in their classroom feel important and cared for, and do this everyday. There are five significant concepts to make each child feel invited into a classroom: address each student by name, say 'please', say 'thank you', smile, and make every child feel loved. These concepts are important to display everyday. Realize that a students name is precious and personal, and the teacher should take great care to pronounce it correctly and not allow students to make fun of each other's names. The word 'please' is powerful because of the mannerism behind it. Well mannered and polite people use 'please' and it is important to repeat this word to have students use it everyday. Along with please comes 'thank you'. The two phrases go hand-in-hand. Whenever a student completes a task or does something nice, it should be followed with 'thank you'. To make this phrase more powerful, follow it with the person's name. Wear a smile in your classroom. Not an over-the-top the smile, but one that is noticed and let's students know you care. The love they receive in a classroom may be all they receive that day or any day.
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