The 5 Habits of Highly Effective Teachers
Teachers plan their lessons all the time, but many of them could be using their time more effectively to help students learn more. What habits do the most effective teachers share that make them so successful? Below are five habits you can incorporate into your lesson planning to help you become one of the most effective teachers in your school district.
1) Always arrive early
Even though you may not be teaching a class, it’s important to show up early for school. As a substitute teacher, you don’t want to walk into a classroom and start teaching a lesson before your supervisor walks in—even if you know what you’re doing. Arrive 15 minutes before your shift begins and introduce yourself to students. Try to keep an open mind during their lessons; even if they are less engaging than yours, try to learn something from them. Many times, teachers have years of experience in addition to several degrees under their belt that can help enrich your own skillset. The more knowledge you have, the better equipped you will be to teach future classes. Finally, remember to always thank students for welcoming you into their classroom. It’s a good idea to follow up with each student after your shift is over by sending them an email or handwritten note thanking them for being so kind. You never know when you might see those same kids again!
2) Have a firm handshake
Making a great first impression is important in any business setting. Whether you’re meeting a prospective employer, investor or collaborator, you want to show that you’re confident and professional. And according to Barbara Pachter (author of The Essentials of Business Etiquette), having a firm handshake can make all the difference. A good handshake demonstrates confidence, sincerity and respect for others. It shows that you are comfortable with yourself and unafraid of others, she says. It makes people feel at ease around you—and helps them trust your word. To ensure your grip is strong enough to make an impact, Pachter suggests squeezing a tennis ball as hard as possible for 20 seconds at a time throughout your day. You should be able to hold it for at least 10 seconds on each hand without feeling discomfort. You don’t have to do it every hour, but once a day will give you more than enough practice, she writes. Once you get used to doing it regularly, try shaking hands with someone else while holding onto the ball so that they can really feel how much pressure you exert when gripping their hand.
3) Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses
Yes, we all have them. It’s impossible to be perfect in every subject, and that includes teaching. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be a great teacher—even if you aren’t going to always win Teacher of the Year. And really, with so many teachers out there who are willing to share their experience and expertise, all you need is a few minutes of prep time every day or week to create lessons that are relevant and effective. For example, look at your students’ strengths and weaknesses. Are they struggling with vocabulary? Does one group of students excel at memorization but struggle when it comes to comprehension? If so, consider creating a lesson plan that focuses on those specific needs. You’ll build trust among your students by showing you care about what they’re learning as well as how they’re learning it. This will encourage them to open up and share information with you—information that will help you tailor future lessons accordingly. Also, take some time each week to reflect on your own personal strengths and weaknesses as a teacher. Doing so will give you a better idea of where you should focus more energy in order to improve both yourself and your teaching skills.
4) Teach in more than one field
Just because you teach English doesn’t mean you can’t help science and math teachers. In fact, in many cases, teaching another subject is actually a great way to learn more about your own. There are plenty of resources available to help people who want to become better at something—and working with other people who are smarter than you can be one heck of a resource. So check out MD Teachers Resources if you want to share lesson plans or simply use those made by others as inspiration for your own creations. This website helps teachers not only share their lessons but also get in touch with experts from all over so they can ask questions that are relevant and useful to them as educators. Teaching should always be an ongoing learning experience. If you’re interested in helping others do that, MD Teachers Resources might just be a good fit for you. It’s free to join and there are no limits on how much you can contribute or how often. You can even earn money for your contributions! (If you want to know more about that, though, you’ll have to contact them directly.) The site isn’t very flashy, but it gets its job done well. And when it comes to education, sometimes simple is best. With MD Teachers Resources, simplicity is king.
5) Show passion for what you do
If a teacher is passionate about what they are teaching, it shows. They are more likely to get through to their students. If you don’t enjoy what you are doing then leave. Your passion for what you do should always be on display for your students. This will help them see that learning can be fun and interesting if you apply yourself. You should also make sure that you have a good understanding of each subject that you teach and make sure that your lesson plans cover all aspects of each subject matter. Be prepared when you go into class. Have everything ready before class starts so that you can just jump right in with no interruptions or distractions. Also, make sure that your classroom is inviting and comfortable for students so they will want to come back every day. Make it a place where kids want to learn rather than dreading going into class every day.
