How to Make a List of Teaching Strategies

Teaching students

Teaching is one of the most satisfying, most exciting and most frustrating occupations you will ever attempt. No matter what level, grade or topics you teach, you will need to make lesson plans and develop strategies for your students to learn and integrate the knowledge. Teaching strategies are plans you make for individual types of students with different needs. Some strategies will work for all, some will work for only one student at a time. This article will give you some tips on how to develop teaching strategies for your students.

Things You'll Need

• Research materials according to subject
• Paper
• Pencil

Instructions

1. Begin with researching your subject material. You will need to educate yourself on various lesson plans, available materials and latest discoveries in your chosen area. Before you can teach, you must be well versed in the subject at hand, and also aware of new teaching materials that may have been published covering that topic.

2. Evaluate your student or students. Strategies can be for individuals or groups. There are general teaching strategies that can apply to the entire classroom, and specific teaching strategies that home in on one area of need. For example, teaching strategies that apply to the classroom are basics such as classroom management. Teaching strategies that apply to a specific problem---such as those that may apply to a student with ADHD---are very focused.

3. Create your initial list of strategies. Begin with the name of the topic, the student or students who you will be using your strategies with, and notes on each student concerning his or her learning abilities for the selected area. Create a list of pros and cons with each strategy being used for each student.

4. Hone the list of strategies until the pros significantly outweigh the cons in the strategy list. Remember, this is only a prototype. It may well be necessary to make changes or additions to your strategy list as your lessons progress.

5. Using your prototype list of master strategies, apply them to the classroom. Keep track of progress or lack thereof, and make corrections as you go. One of the necessities of being a teacher is the ability to flex to fit each situation.

Tips & Warnings

• There are thousands of published materials on teaching strategies, and you will need to make absolutely certain you do your homework. Choose strategies that will work for you and your personality.

• Never assume that published lesson plans and strategies will be 100 percent fool-proof and effective. They are guidelines only!

Resources

• Teaching Strategies