Teaching is a profession, which can make a positive difference in society. A teacher should have the potential to manage the classroom well and impress the students positively with his or her action. In our daily life, as humans, we have all made mistakes. Yes, teachers too are humans; they too commit mistakes during teaching. However, a great thing about making mistakes is that the teacher should learn from them. Here, we will discuss some common mistakes committed by teachers and how teachers can avoid them.
1. Teaching Without an Objective
Most of the new teachers commit this mistake and teach without an objective. They get into a classroom and start teaching without having any clear objective. Not only does a teacher need to have an objective, but students need it most. A clear objective outlines what and when the teacher is going to teach, and what he expects of the student after that particular lesson.
A good Lesson Objective helps the teacher to:
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Focus on every student in the class
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Connect to the students
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Set and monitor a good learning environment
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Think about what your students will need to know by the end of the lesson
2. Trying to Copy Someone’s else Method of Teaching
In teaching, you have to find your voice, your own way of delivering the subject content, and most of all your way of discipline. Some new teachers often make the mistake of watching a more experienced teacher and trying to be them. They mimic delivery and even stance without realizing that the other teacher is working with a given procedure or technique.
How do you avoid the temptation of Mimicking other teachers?
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Improve on your way of teaching
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Don’t try to copy someone’s method of teaching
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Teach students according to their mental level
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Use your natural way of teaching / be natural
3. Disrespecting Students Infront of other Students
How much students learn in the class depends much on the teacher’s attitude. If two teachers could teach the same subject to the same students; using the same methods and give the same exams, the students will get different results altogether. Under one teacher, the student might get good marks, and under the other teacher, grades could be below. The difference between the students’ performance in the two classes could easily stem from the teachers’ attitudes.
Using harsh words or abusive language to students could indicate disrespect.
So, what should a teacher do?
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Don’t disrespect the student in front of others
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Don’t give negative feedback in front of their classmates
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Don’t criticize every action of student
4. Talking Too Fast or Slow
Most of the teachers talk very fast or slow during lessons. We always see this mistake also committed by some senior and experienced teachers. Not all the students have the same mental level. Frequently, when a teacher gets into a lesson, they speak in their natural voice, which can be difficult for students to follow. Sometimes if the teacher speaks too slowly, if teaching students of a higher mental level, they will get uninterested, and the teacher will lose their attention.
Solution?
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Give lecture in a proper tone
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Do not talk consistently in the same voice tone and pace during a lecture
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Practice alone to deliver a lecture in a soft and variable tone
5. Teaching Using Outdated Study Materials
Some teachers do not change the course work-book, notes, presentation, or other teaching material for a long time. Such courses often become easy to teach for the teacher but not useful for the students. The student does not learn new things in the subject if the teacher uses the old course. Changing the course work is helpful for the student to get proper and latest knowledge.
Avoid Using Archaic Study Materials by:
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Changing the teaching material atmost after every 2-3 years
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Add latest topics/research in your teaching material
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Make your study notes updated and eye-catching
6. Not Establishing a Good Strong Relationship with Students
Not every teacher can build a good relationship with his or her students. Strong and healthy relationship with students is an effective way of reducing problems associated with poor classroom management. If the teacher has a strong relationship with their students, they’re less likely to act out. Building a good relationship with students can go a long way toward creating a classroom that is a true reflection of a coherent community.
Here is how a teacher can enhance good rapport with students;
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Make good relations with all the students in the class all the time
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Talk and meet with the students on one-on-one basis
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Find out in details what is going on in the lives of the students
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Regularly give good advice based on their problems