Teaching Degree!!!
But that is extremely unrealistic, so I am going to fill you in on some tricks of the trade!
Why?
Because I am going into month 10 of my World Race and I have been in a classroom setting for 5 of those months! Many of my squad mates have been in a classroom just as many months, if not more; and the thing that I hear over and over is that they are not teachers and they don’t know what to do.
So here we go!!
Number 1- BE CONSISTENT
Children crave consistency! The more consistent you are with a classroom, the better they will listen and behave for you. If they are going to get in trouble for misbehaving one way on day one, they should get in trouble for that every time.
Number 2-POSITIVE REINFORCEMENTS
So many children that you will come across on the Race are simply lookin’ for some love! And the only way that most of them know how to gain your attention is by acting out. The easiest way to eliminate this mindset is to constantly be giving your attention to the children that are doing what they are supposed to be doing. I am in no way shape or form saying to ignore the troublemakers, I am saying that a high five goes a long way!! If you see a kid doing exactly what you want them to be doing say something like, “GOOD JOB!! YOU ARE BEING SO QUIET RIGHT NOW!” and give that student a high five. The other student will see what you just did and one by one they will get quiet and pay attention. (The whole be consistent thing is crucial if you want this to work.) Also, sometimes discipline is necessary…time out is great, but remember only one minute for each year. So if they are 5 years old, they get 5 minutes.
Number 3-BE EXCITED!!
Most likely the students that you will be working with will not understand one word that you are saying to them….that is okay because you won’t understand them either. (I personally have only had a translator once, and that was in Central America where I kind of spoke the language…don’t count on them!) Kids love excitement! The more excited you are, the more excited they are…guaranteed! Even if you have no idea what you are doing, be excited while you are doing it.
Number 4-LEARNING STYLES
There are 7 different learning styles (ways that people learn) and the more that you incorporate each one, the better all of your students will understand.
Visual-These students prefer using pictures, images, and spatial understanding. Show them what you are teaching them!
Auditory(Musical)-These students learn by using sound and music. Put it to a beat, and exaggerate your sounds.
Verbal-These students crave word usage; both in speech and writing. Let them talk and write as much as you can.
Physical-These students have to physically maneuver their bodies to learn. Hands on activities, dances, and writing are excellent ways to implement this learning style.
Logical(Mathematical)-These students feel the need to understand why…for everything!! Note taking is really good for these students and surface level explanations will not due! Sometimes you simply have to tell them to refocus on the activity at hand.
Social-These kids love to learn together!! You can’t always have group activities, so sometimes it’s best to have them share with a friend what they are learning.
Solitary-These students are motivated to learn on their own. They will still need your guidance, but working with a friend doesn’t really excite them. Allow them to have their space, but it is necessary for them to learn how to work with others too!
I recognize that most of these tips are focusing more on the classroom management aspect of teaching, rather than the content; but truthfully I cannot tell you what to teach these children. They are all on very different levels, and I would have to assess each situation to know. What I can do is teach you how to love these children better. If you take these things into consideration and really put your heart into it, you will make a difference! I promise, even when you feel like you aren’t…it’s worth it!
If you need more help, please contact me! Teaching is the thing that I love, and I would absolutely love to help you learn more about it!
