Do Teachers Affect Students' Learning Abilities?
- Teachers inspire students to learn when they also show a passion for learning. An apathetic or bored teacher will bring about apathetic and bored students. You do not have to provide a circus environment of high stimulation to inspire your students' passion for learning. Be confident and show a real love for what you do. Be creative and energetic in how you present materials. Alternate teaching methods to avoid routines. On some days, you may focus on hands-on work, and use text reading on other days.
- The term "self-fulfilling prophecy" means that if a person believes something about himself, be it negative or positive, it becomes his reality. In the classroom, a teacher has the incredible role of fostering self-esteem and strong belief systems in his students. Show an interest in and caring attitude toward them. If a student has difficulty understanding a concept, take some time to show her a solution. You should never tell a student that she is incapable of learning. This will cause a defeated mentality that hampers her ability and will to learn.
- Understand the differences in learning styles for your students. You must learn to adapt your teaching styles to fit them, because teaching styles have a great effect on their learning. A useful style in the classroom is the differential method of teaching. In this style, you avoid generalizing the abilities of students. You don't "teach to the middle" of ability of the class. Instead, a teaching philosophy to meet each student where she stands in her ability helps everyone by not isolating low performers from high performers.
- Structure is important in a child's life, and in his learning environment this is no exception. As a teacher, one of your goals to facilitate learning should be to develop and run a classroom that allows for proper channels of communication between teacher and students. Be comfortable challenging your students. Call on them and ask them questions that push them to think through complex but grade-appropriate ideas. Provide them with texts, maps and other resources, and encourage them to independently seek out understanding of what they have learned.
