HougenSmarttTenTips

TEACHING TIP SHEET

10 Tips on Becoming a More Effective Teacher

  1. Continually examine your instructional practices.

  2. Communicate a sense of urgency.
    Cut out unproductive activities. Keep expectations high, monitor progress closely, and give students the supports they need before they fail.

  3. Communicate high expectations while recognizing student needs.
    Communicate that you believe they can succeed, and differentiate instruction to meet individual needs.

  4. Recognize the positive intent behind challenging behavior.
    Engage your students in the classroom community by giving them jobs and roles and providing them with multiple opportunities to interact with peers as they learn.

  5. Redirect students to more appropriate ways to reach their goals.

  6. Keep increasing your knowledge.
    Adopt a “lifelong learner” mindset. The more you know, the more your students will benefit.

  7. Focus on the 3 Cs—
    Caring, Creative, and Courageous.

  8. Tell your students why they should learn what you’re teaching.
    Answer the question: what’s in it for me?

  9. When you feel like screaming at a noisy class, whisper.
    Students will have to quiet down to hear what you’re saying.

  10. Consider doing the opposite of what you feel like doing.

Adapted from Fundamentals of Literacy Instruction & Assessment, Pre-K–6, Second Edition edited by Martha C. Hougen, Ph.D. & Susan M. Smartt, Ph.D. ©2020, Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved.