How to Be a Successful Public School Teacher

Having trouble getting your students to learn? No worries with a little help and determination you'll be successful at being a great teacher.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Determination
• Local teacher supply store
• Extra time
• Patience

1. First you need to understand this will not be easy. Students have already judged you before you even open your mouth. Whether it's your last name, attire, facial appearance, etc.. and it can be very tough to change first impressions. Try to wear something professional but still eye appealing so your students feel like they're not talking to their grandma. Smile. Smiling is contagious. If you smile and act like your having fun teaching they will feel like they're having fun learning.

2. Read the state required manual to the course(s) you are teaching. Each state has certain criteria that MUST be taught that year and certain skills your students MUST have learn maybe even mastered before they move on. Make sure you cover every criteria in your course or you will be worrying about a lot more than just your students.

3. You have to take into account that these students are not adults, they're kids and possibly even teenagers depending on what your course is. They are being influenced by popular music, the media, home life, friends, peer pressure, and numerous other factors. When you go up to teach you can't drone on and on in lectures and test. You have to make learning fun or they will never comprehend what they are "learning". Most kids in boring learning environments just memorize the required material for a short period of time (enough to get past a test mainly) then forget all about it.

4. Go to a teacher supply store. Try to find things that are contemporary and modern. Audio cassettes that read books in a monotone voice will just put your kids to sleep. Find things that are bright colored and eye catching. Make assignments interesting and something that kids will want to do. Maybe make a point system or a game out of work. Make teams (boys/girls a-m/n-z names be creative) you could even make "races" on your board. Write a problem on the board covered up, each team sends up a person to the board, uncover the question, and it's a race to who can complete the problem first and correctly. Each time someone wins you could carry a point system. Maybe even lasting the whole school year. Individual/group/ or both. At the end of the year do something for the winners that fits in with them. Gift certificate/ free A / be creative.

5. Patience is the most important key to teaching. If a child doesn't understand something don't give up on them. Maybe offer an after school touring program. Eventually with enough persistence and trying out different methods of learning your student will comprehend the material. As long as you look like you want to help the student and your not bored/annoyed/ etc. with them and you smile and want to help them they will try to.

Tips & Warnings

• Always look like you want to be in your classroom.
• Always try different methods of teaching
• Bright colors attract attention
• Smile
• And most importantly HAVE FUN WITH TEACHING!
• Never give up on a child
• Always follow the criteria in the state book
• Never call a child stupid for not understanding material

[niknik2008]

on 9/12/2008 Thanks for the information I'm thinking about teaching. I have not made a decision yet. Still researching.

[dceclint]

on 8/2/2008 Very true. I teach in TX public school system.