Classroom community is key to proper learning.
One of my strongest beliefs within the field of teaching thus far is that the key to success within the classroom for both students and teachers is to ensure that there is a sense of teamwork and community. From personal experience, every class that I remember ever being successful in our group had a congealed sense of community. The relationship that we as students had with our instructor was one that we felt of trust, respect, and friendship. I am a firm believer that interacting with your students and allowing them to feel safe while in the classroom contributes to their ability to focus and experience a greater learning ability.
Curriculum should be proven relevant as much as possible.
We have all heard someone say throughout our own careers at school, “why are we learning this? Does this have anything to do with what people do in life?” The curriculum that will motivate the most students will be the material that they perceive as the most relevant and meaningful. Time after time we see students sitting at their desks with their head down because they see no reason to waste their time doing another worksheet, and why should they? I believe in making each lesson matter in the sense of relating it to what is current and up-to-date in the real world. This also ties in to incorporating as many life skills within lessons as possible. The more opportunity students get to work on teamwork, communication skills, and leadership the more we are doing them a service in preparing them to face their futures.
We as teachers are responsible for creating and exampling life-long learners.
One of the most important things that I learned as a student teacher was that we as teachers do not need to be creating more students that cannot think for themselves and have to have all the information that they learn provided for them. What we really should be doing is creating classes of lifetime learners that are enabled to problem solve and critically analyze information. I think we as instructors need to challenge our students to look beyond the question being presented and formulate questions of their own. We as teachers also need to demonstrate the need to be life-long learners. Examples of inquiry should be discussed and brought up frequently. Teachers should not shy away from not knowing all the answers either, we too can learn.
Allow time for both the students and yourself as a teacher to reflect.
In relation to being a life-long learner, there also needs to be time where an individual can learn from one’s reflections. I think that sharing the value of reflection with our students is also of high importance. Personally during my practicum I found it very significant for me to take a look back at my day during the car ride home. How did things go? What went well and what went wrong? What can I change to improve upon today? Students should also engage in their own reflective practices either through journal entries or electronic blogs as to how they might improve their own learning.
Being organized and engaging as an instructor translates to better learning for students.
One entity that I have found throughout my time teaching is that I am at my best when I am prepared and organized. This also reduces the stress of delivering a lesson, thus I am able to put more of an effort in engaging with my students. I believe that students are encouraged and motivated to learn the material if they see the instructor’s passion and enthusiasm shine through as well. However, staying organized and well planned beforehand allows a teacher to develop the confidence and assurance needed in order to display their passion for the curriculum.
Physical Literacy needs to be adapted into our students lives in order for longevity in being active.
Being part of a Physical Education major, I also have a passion to teach kids the joys and benefits of physical activity. With today’s students being immersed in the most technological era this world has ever seen, it is critical that the kids of this generation do not forget the values of being active as well. Too many individuals are getting wrapped up in their television, computers, or video games as opposed to getting outside for some playtime. I believe that through teaching physical literacy we will be inspiring and motivating the newer generations to become self-regulated in keep their bodies active and healthy. This is done through teaching students not just the activity or sport itself, but also the importance and relevancy of it’s required actions and skills. Here is a youtube link that also highlight my point of emphasizing activity to younger individuals.
Hands Up for Health and Physical Literacy (Posted March 1, 2003).
Video provided by OpheaCanada.