Teaching Strategies?

Question

I am a first year teacher, I teach high school American and World History, and I and trying to find my own style... I am trying compley a list of strategies that would work in a high school setting... If anyone can help and give examples I would love you forever! Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

Building upon what else is said here in answers, maybe you can brainstorm a world history board game? or a game period. What i've noticed with the good teachers I've had is that they have good sense in placing the students in various roles that they will do well in. For example, if you're making a board game, you assign the "artists" for the 'artists job' and so forth. Of course, this requires a lot of personality assessments...

Your subject can be very interesting if you know what stories to bring up, and how to say it. I had a political teacher who was superb in this-- telling us stories, little trivias, and facts that piqued our interests. When you're doing your research, you should take note of the strong and colorful personalities of people in history, or strange and different events that can be easily remembered.

In our school, we had competitions against each class-- usually it's a play, where we have complete control over. Scripting is made by a student, director is a student, costume is made by a student, and you're only there to approve or give suggestions. I don't know if this can work where you live, because it also depends on the general students' attitude.

Oh! I also just remembered- perhaps you can ask their opinions on certain topics that come out. For example, if you're telling stories about Elisabeth Bathory (I know, not American history, but humour me), ask them their thoughts upon finding out she murdered all those girls for just her skin? Questions that provoke a teen's dark interest and developing opinions will often get them to participate. Of course, now there's that issue on how you can get those stories into the lesson plan...

Don't worry about your own style. You really won't develop it if you try on different methods like a tshirt. Let it come naturally for you, think of what works and what doesn't work. Build it up, instead of trying things out.

Someone here said "don't try to be a bud." Personally, I like friendly teachers. Buuut the advice is good, because being a "bud" is very hard to accomplish-- you can either be loved for being exactly a friend they wanted-- or hated for trying to fit in.

Good luck

Answer 2

Dress better than they do.....NO jeans for the first 2 or 3 years.....Seems stupid but it is important especially since you are so young.
Teaching strategies.....mix-it upas much as possible. Do more than read out of the book and give notes.
If you are able use powerpoint,students will respond to it.And you won't have to write notes out 3 or 4 times a day. Then you can post them to the web.
Create a website for your students and parents.
Get an email address just for school that your students and parents can email questions to you.
Use technology as much as you can, for assignments and research projects. HS students respond to them and respect that you put forth the extra effort.
GO to some Varsity sports events and be seen.
Plan ahead as much as possible. ALways keep your planbook upto date even if it is only a few days ahead.
Invite parents and other teachers into your room so you can show off what your students are learning and your peers can help you become a better teacher.
Ask your peers for things they know that works.
Stay out of the teachers room if it is a B***hing spot. FInd someone to eat with somewhere else.
Good luck! Teaching isn't easy and we don't get paid alot but it's worth it when your students come back and visit you.

Answer 3

if you have trouble with the class trying coming in dressed up as what ever it is your teaching .o be the manly part IE the soldier as you will get more response and try getting them to act out a small situation in history .It will make it interesting and get them all involved .in the class which will trigger an interest .
PS and make you a good cool teacher .
hope all gos well

Answer 4

Be firm, fair and consistent. Challenge your students, but make it fun. Try to get away from the book and worksheets and lecture. Look for ways that students will learn while interacting. For example, have them create commercials for coming to America and video tape them.

Answer 5

As a technological know-how instructor, i myself like the Socratic technique, and it includes hands ON student involvement, which there can never be sufficient for the scholars it style of feels. They (scholars) relatively like/prefer/appreciate doing experiments somewhat while they use contraptions to degree, and replenish balloons, and bypass exterior.....and watch issues pass and enhance....it relatively is amazing how technological know-how can relatively come alive and exuberance grows while they get entangled. it relatively is exciting as a instructor to computer screen the assumption technique somewhat while the scholars start up doing great little "part" experiments and tricky one yet another on larger gaining information of tiers.

Answer 6

Try not to worry so much about your style -it will come in time. Make sure you are organized and control your class. Always have more than they can do in an hour.

Answer 7

Try asking them thier plans on how to get money or the summer that will teach them tactics of stratergizing because if they want money they will find out a way to get it stratergy

Answer 8

make it real, creative & applicable to real world issues.
example: making a board game from history solutions is fun...monopoly with different world or history eras..students can come up with icons or questions for cards etc.

Answer 9

Never try to be a pal!