| Teachers arguably have one of the most challenging | | | | interested in, find some angle that excites you and run |
| and rewarding jobs, all at once. The following list should | | | | with it. Your students will reflect your emotion and |
| help you to keep your career in perspective, as well as | | | | enthusiasm. |
| infuse your students with an openness and desire to | | | | Develop a Sense of Humor |
| learn. | | | | Pull out your sense of humor at any difficult moment: |
| Prepared But Flexible | | | | when your students are running wild, when the class is |
| The most effective teachers create lesson plans in | | | | chaotic, when you're stressed, overworked and |
| advance, know their subject well and have all of their | | | | uninspired. When things don't go as planned, keeping a |
| teaching supplies on hand. However, these teachers | | | | sense of humor will not only rub off on your students, |
| are also flexible. | | | | but it may teach them something more valuable than |
| Never sacrifice true learning for time lines, even if it | | | | the lesson material. |
| throws your schedule slightly awry. If your students | | | | Interact with Your Students |
| are genuinely interested in delving deeper into a topic | | | | Students who feel that you're interested in who they |
| or if they need extra help understanding a new | | | | are and what is going on in their personal lives are |
| concept, be flexible enough to realize that your lesson | | | | usually more open to learning from you. By interacting |
| is a guideline rather than a rigid structure. | | | | with your students and getting to know them, you |
| Project Kindness | | | | invite them to embark on an educational adventure, |
| Especially for young children, a little warmth and | | | | instead of just sitting in a chair listening to you talk each |
| nurturing go a long way. Keep in mind the emotional | | | | day. |
| and mental maturity of your students. Little things like a | | | | Listening Skills |
| smile, eye contact or a handshake at the start of the | | | | Speaking of listening, you should model good listening |
| day may be all it takes to shake off a grumpy early | | | | skills for your students. Because you spend so much |
| morning and open them up to learning. | | | | time talking, it is sometimes easy to forget that your |
| Establish Class Rules | | | | job is also to listen. |
| To ensure that children know exactly what is | | | | Constant Improvement |
| expected of them in your class, use the first week of | | | | Whether you read trade magazines, teaching blogs or |
| school to establish class rules. Post them where they | | | | take enrichment classes, never stop looking for ways |
| can be seen and review them often. Especially during | | | | to improve your craft. |
| the first week of school, encourage your students to | | | | Keeping a healthy perspective will make you a better |
| discuss the rules and gauge their understanding. | | | | teacher. These tips, used wisely, will make the job of |
| Plan for Disciplinary Problems | | | | teaching more rewarding for you and for those you |
| Be clear that not every student will act how you want | | | | teach. |
| them to all of the time. To maintain an environment | | | | Balance |
| conducive to learning, have a clear plan for how you | | | | As with any job it's extremely important to have a |
| will deal with disciplinary problems. This will be | | | | good balance between your work and personal life. If |
| somewhat dictated by school protocol, but once you | | | | you spend all of your free time working on grading |
| get to know the individuals in your classroom, you will | | | | papers and coming up with new lesson plans then you |
| be better able to assess what types of discipline | | | | need to make an effort to set aside free time to |
| tactics you will need to employ. | | | | spend with family and friends. It's too easy to get |
| Enthusiasm is Contagious | | | | bogged down with work and be completely consumed |
| Find ways to breathe life into each lesson and convey | | | | by it. Next time you are feeling stressed or |
| your sense of enthusiasm and passion for the subject | | | | overwhelmed take a look at how you're spending your |
| to your students. Like the cliche about finding the silver | | | | time and see if you have a good balance between |
| lining, even with subjects you're genuinely less | | | | your work and personal life. |