This post is inspired by an article written by Steven Beyer in the September, 2008 Issue of Principal Leadership. His topic was advice for (relatively) inexperienced teachers on the elements of a successful class. I have taken some of his points and added in a few of my own.
Anybody else have any suggestions they’d like to add?
Elements of a Successful Class
- Put the plan for the day (a brief list will do) on the board so the students have an idea of the work they’ll be tackling.
- Start class with an activity that draws everyone in and gets everyone involved. You can use a writing prompt, give the students a “pair and share” question, etc.
- Vary your instructional approach. A rough rule of thumb is that no single activity in a high school class should last longer than 20 minutes, so most classes need at least three different activities. And PLEASE don’t lecture for more than ten minutes at a time! Getting feedback from kids to assess their mastery of the material—you could use mini-white boards, clickers, colored index cards, etc—is a great to know whether it is time to move on to the next topic or to employ a new approach to the current subject. Be sure to allow time for questions.
- Use the whiteboard wisely! Every time you go to the board to write something down you regain the attention of the students who may have drifted away for a moment or two. Use the board for summarizing the most important points or for generating your most important questions.
- Keep an eye on the clock and be sure to wrap your lesson up in a way that allows the students to review and summarize the day’s important points.
- Make sure to remind the students about the assignment for the next day—write it on the board, if you can.
- Refresh your online site every week. Post homework assignments, extra credit questions, additional resources, answer keys, sample test questions, and so on. Keep the students in the habit of visiting regularly.
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8. Move around. It is a great way to keep students involved in class. Don’t get stuck in front too much. Sit down with them whenever possible. It shows them you are really involved in what is going on, and models the behavior you want them to use.
The best teachers, like the best coaches, have the ability to make every student feel like a valued member of the class. The teacher gets to know the strengths and interests of each student and uses a variety of techniques to engage all students in a meaningful way. These classrooms are communities, and by feeling valued, each student feels a commitment to the success of the class, as well as a sense of responsibility for one’s work and contributions. These are my favorite classes to visit and observe in action!
Passion! There is no substitute for passion. Students are lured in by the energy of teachers who love what they do. It exudes from every ounce of their being. Decades after class is through – those remembered are the teachers who reached into our minds and our hearts and enveloped us in their love of the subject matter.