1.
Always prepare yourself for each class. Students
expect you to be prepared to deliver the lesson so go through the actual lesson
plan before you teach
2.
Don’t patronize the students – they are far too
intelligent for you
3.
Be kind always – yes always. This might be the
very first time a student approaches you or asks a question in class. Your
answer will determine their response to you for the whole semester
4.
Be punctual. Always be there in front of the
class ready to go. Your early presence tells them you have something important
to teach today
5.
Praise students publically – it lifts their
spirits and encourages enthusiasm
6.
Never use a permanent marker on the whiteboard –
it just makes you look like a fool
7.
Never turn your back to the class and read off
the slides – it makes you look like you are talking to the whiteboard rather than
to the students.
8.
Don’t forget your flash drive after teaching or
powerpoint presentation – this is a major no no.
9.
Alot doesn’t mean great. A really good lecture
doesn’t necessarily mean a PowerPoint presentation of 30 slides or more – even
two slides can last an hour if you really break it down through questions,
discussion and case scenarios and then the student will understand the content
better.
10.
If you are late for class, apologise to the
students
11.
Bad breath is a killer!
12.
Sarcasm is a great tool – only if you use it at
the right time.
13.
The only way students can really learn about a
topic is for them to talk about it in class. For them to do that, they need to
do research first…and this means reading!
14.
Bloom’s taxonomy is the ideal reference point
for student learning and teacher teaching
15.
Class attendance can mean class attitude – a
full class shows there is expectation to learn.
16.
Semester marks, sometimes, isn’t a true
reflection of a student’s academic ability.
17.
Even if
you’ve tried your very best, you can NEVER please all the students in the
class. Some will love your class while others are there for the marks only!
18.
Some
students just don’t want to be here. They are so lazy and take for granted the
opportunity to study in a university.
19.
Facebook is seriously a bad distraction for
students in the classroom and outside.
20.
Some students come from tough, violent backgrounds, poor families and lonely homes but they attack school work like busy bees scoring high marks each semester. Some students come from privileged homes and well off families and score low marks at the bottom of the class...
So that's it. There are many more things that I have observed, experienced and dealt with as a teacher and I may write about them later on.
