What is the greatest skill a teacher could have to improve the learning for their students?

Question

I work with students aged 11-16. They all have different needs. What do you think is the greatest skill I need to improve to help them

Answer 1

As a teacher for 14 years, let me take a stab at answering this.

I also work with middle/junior high school students, and have for the past 11 years or so. I've taught high school and college as well, but I've found my niche with these crazy ones, I guess because I'm just as crazy as they are, and deep down inside, I'm still 13 myself, even though physically I'm 38. :)

First of all you have to have a thorough, deep grounding in your field. Get your BA, get your MA. Get your PhD if it helps. Become a Nationally Board Certified teacher. I don't have my PhD or National Board certification -- yet. I don't rule it out. I do have over 100 hours in college credits past my MA. I am an eternal college student. It's important to model that "the truly educated never graduate". My students see me occasionally sneaking a peek at my class notes around finals time, and I tell them when I have a test coming up if they see me stressing and ask why. That way they understand that learning never stops, and I believe that's a strong model for them.

Secondly, you have to have a thorough, deep familiarity with the textbooks and/or novels you are teaching. There is NOTHING, I repeat -- NOTHING -- like experience in being a teacher. Forget all the "ed biz" theory... just get in the classroom and teach. Learn what you can, when you can, from whom you can. But there is nothing like your own experience to teach you what works and what does not. And this comes from working closely with the text, trying different approaches, sometimes several in one day. All classes are different, have different needs, and have different group dynamics. What works for one will flop for another.

Make sure what you do, and what you ask of students, is academically rigorous. When they whine, "This is haaard," that's the biggest compliment you can get; it means you are forcing them to THINK. They hate it because they're kids, but it is good for them. The art of teaching, though, is to ask just enough to stretch them, but not so much that you break their brains. And you get that through experience. It's a good idea also to beg, borrow, and steal whatever you can from other colleagues. As a former department chair of many years, I welcome all new teachers to dig through my file cabinets and look through my books, and photocopy whatever they want. Be assertive and ask to borrow books and materials.

Make your classroom welcoming and comfortable. Make it a place where kids want to hang out between classes. Put up posters. Paint the walls if necessary. Hang up examples of good work, and of their artwork. Students this age are THE MOST artistic, and they finally are beginning to have the small-motor skills to do really fine, detailed work.

Dig deeper than just knowledge, comprehension and application. Everyone knows Bloom's Taxonomy. Do whatever you can to reach those higher order thinking skills. Think of it like exercise: you are supposed to get to a point where you are sweating just a little, your heartbeat is up, and it's a bit difficult to carry on a conversation -- then keep up that intensity for at least 20 minutes. Education is the same. Take them through the first levels of Bloom's as a warmup, then get them into that higher realm of thinking and keep them there. That's where the learning takes place. How you do that is up to your creativity and genius. Don't let what the state says get in the way. No one tells you how to teach, even if curriculums are mandated more and more. It is still up to you to think of the best, most interesting and most creative way to teach the content area.

Always repair before you have to. Try to talk to each kid personally. Praise the whole group if they are on task; be pro-active and re-steer a child if s/he is starting to get bored and act out or get off task. Don't wait until someone is already off task to correct... do it before it needs to be done by continually touching base with students, whether by eye contact, visual appraisal of their work, proximity control (walking around), short at-the-desk conferences, etc.

The biggest need students of this age have is vocabulary. They are all English language learners, no matter if they are in special ed or if they are gifted or anywhere in between. Like the teacher said in Dangerous Minds, you can't think without words. Beef up vocabulary any way you can.

I'd also venture to say that students need to be taught how to think logically. It's not what they learn that's as important as that they know how to learn and how to think for themselves. They need to learn how to question so they will be true citizens, not just worker drones. Critical thinking is so vital for these little people who are going to vote in the quite near future.

Character education (such as the program Character Counts!) is a big deal, too. Students this age are learning how much they can get away with, and how they relate to rules and authority. Another art to teaching is to be authoritative without being authoritarian, although sometimes the latter approach is needed, but not often. Emphasizing positive virtues will lead students to believe that they are good people. Remember that people live up or down to your expectations, so set the bar high, but attainably so. You will see good results.

One last thing, because I know this is getting long. I'm on my conference period and I'd like to get lunch! LOL I have found that it is very, very effective to sit down to discipline. I never stand over students. I want the student standing over me, even though I'm a female who stands 5'5". Psychologically and physically, having a student stand over you gives them an advantage, and if you have to correct or question their behavior, their having power takes quite a bit of sting out of any correction. I also keep all correction to no more than a minute and a half. Here's the problem that I have with you; here's a solution. Do you have any other ideas, and are you okay with this? Okay, don't do it again or the consequence will be x, y or z. Got it? Thanks. And be consistent. End with a compliment or a small joke. If at all possible, have the student leave smiling, even if it's just a small one.

The best thing you can do is be FAIR, FIRM and CONSISTENT to the very best of your ability. Be academically rigorous with yourself and them. Teach creatively. Anticipate and solve problems before they happen. Make your room warm and inviting. Keep appropriate professional boundaries. Make sure you laugh with every period at least once every day. Learn witty comebacks that can stop backtalk without being sarcastic or belittling, and make the kid laugh in surprise at your quick thinking. Give treats every so often out of the blue, unexpectedly. Demand and expect good work. Be firm with them when they want to slack off, and be gentle with them when they have bad or off days.

Remember when you were that age. Remember your favorite teacher. Channel that energy, and find your own way, and you will do good in the lives of children.

God bless and hope this helps, K

Answer 2

Always have these questions in mind: 1) "What are the qualities that combine to create an excellent, memorable teacher?" 2) "Why do some teachers inspire students to work harder than they normally would while others inspire students to skip class?"
Ask your students to list for you the qualities they feel are important in a good teacher.Ask them to identify the qualities they admire in the best teacher they have had. Give them enough time, say 10 minutes, to think about it seriously and write something down. Let them answer the questions anonymously if they desire.
You will get a fascinating collage of ideas. Split the ideas into 2 sets namely: 1) a set of core qualities students require in a good teacher, and 2) specific skills developed by good teachers.
Core qualities: (a) you must be an expert in the field of subjects you teach; (b) you must possess the ability to communicate - a good teacher can explain complicated material in a way that students can understand and use. Give your students an answer and they can solve one problem, but show students the technique needed to find the answer for themselves and they can become self- sufficient in that field.
Specific skills: (a) Generate interest. Knowledge is worthless unless it is delivered to the students in a form they can understand. Show students how the material will apply to their lives and careers; (b) Respect - you must show a deep-seated concern and respect for your students.

Answer 3

Well, U need to be creative and committed. U should be able to make a boring subject become interesting. U must know how to attract the attention of your student. Make them answer your question and participate. Always add humour and gimmick. It is common in class the teachers tend to teach from the book or text. Memorise your subject and teach without refering to the text. Thus, give the impression to the student that U know the subject well. Increase and lower your voice tone. Make sure the student can hear U when U speak. Don't speak too soft as though U are talking to yourself. Look at your student and stay focussed.

Answer 4

I was a teacher for three years. The main thing I learned was that the root of classroom management was in setting tasks. Don't depend too much on exposition or explanation. Find a task through which THEY can learn for themselves. I always found paired work and small group work invaluable. I found standing still better than moving around and getting excited. Speaking more quietly is the best way to get attention. The BEST way to improve their learning is to MONITOR it. Good marking founded on thje achievement of simple, clear objectives and targets rather than blanket correction (the kind of marking parents always want us to do), well monitored and which theya re clear about, and can even take responsibility for, is invaluable, I reckon.

Answer 5

THE GREATEST skill a teacher could have is to be genuine and truly love what he or she is doing. Everything else falls into place no matter what the need, skill, gift, etc. Patience, confidence, skill, intuition, empathy, and expertise all come when a teacher desires and enjoys what he/she is doing.

Answer 6

Patience, patience and more patience.

Creativity, each child has a different learning style try to appeal to as many kids as you can. Think on your feet, and be willing to change the lesson plan at a moment's notice.

Challenge your students, don't let them slack. Remember adverstiy will make them stronger, and that goes for kids having to do homework and classwork.

And patience...did I mentiont that? Good luck.

Answer 7

Confidence. If you present your material with confidence, they'll trust you. Yes, you need to know your subject and know it well. Yes, you need to have an effective and organized lesson plan. Yes, you definitely need to love your students (especially the 'bad' ones 'cause they need love the most!). Most of all, you have to have confidence in how you present the material, how you handle the lesson. You have to walk into that class like there's nothing you can't handle: and that there's nothing you can't teach them. Believe in them. Trust them to be able to learn what you're teaching. Present with confidence.

As for the different needs and levels? Hey, that's what a learner-centered approach is for. Put 'em in groups and teams and let 'em help each other for a change. See 'em freak when you tell 'em to share their answers! Teaching is the best job in the world!

Answer 8

The ability to facilitate rather than to dictate. Make learning an interactive experience where the emphasis is on the student researching for themselves under a framework and reporting back with information. Provide the thinking stimulus and suggestions for research ideas-then let them to it.

Answer 9

Looking back i would say the ability to adapt their teaching style to the learning style of the individual. Had more of my teachers done that in my case i might have actually found school interesting.
Like someone else said ... explain the same things in 60 different ways and don't take it personally.

Answer 10

The ability to enthuse them with a love, or at least a deep appreciation of your subject. It is the one thing that will make your students work hard and learn, and give your professional life meaning.
Good luck!

Answer 11

i always think playing an instrument is cool for teachers.

i also think that kids are very visual at that age - i know I always took more in if the teacher used great overheads or used the board alot.

dont get kids to read chapters in class its the worst. but also use techniques to get kids working in different groups and making friends with eachother, split groups up.