Effective Teaching Strategies

A successful teacher is one who can observe and recognize the varying needs in the classroom and create meaningful learning opportunities for all students.   This module examines the way in which you approach curriculum as created by Carol Marra Pelletier in her book Strategies for Successful Student Teaching.

Questions and/or materials printed in italics are to be answered on the discussion page.

A.    Learning Styles - How Do You Know?

Students learn in many way.  Being able to recognize the differences will assist you in designing lessons and bring the students together as a team.

Go to the discussion page and share with the other student teachers the ways in which you have determined the learning styles of the students in your class. Talk about how you discovered those styles, what you did to teach to those styles, and what you did to make sure your personal style did not get in the way.

Enter into a discussion with the other student teachers to see which are primarily:

             Auditory     Visual    Hands-on    Random     Sequential    Inductive    Deductive

Talk about a favorite teaching strategy for one or more of the learning styles listed above.

B.    Teaching Styles - Which Do You Prefer?

It is important for you to be aware of your preferred teaching style and how it matches with your students' learning styles so you can adapt and vary your teaching so all students will respond.  Remember, the goal is to have students learn to respond to as many styles of teaching as possible, not to select one.  You may have to teach them how to respond as well as teach the material.

Do you like to talk and explain concepts to students verbally?  Then you probably:

    lecture for a majority part of the class period

    talk to students.

Do you like to write and see concepts on paper?  Then you probably:

    use the board to list ideas.

    write outlines for students.

    create study guides.

    ask students to take notes.

Do you enjoy using visual displays?  Then you probably:

    use the computer to demonstrate a concept.

    bring in models and posters to show students.

    use webbing and graphic organizers.

Do you like to touch and see things happen?  Then you probably:

    create experiments for your classroom.

    design hands-on lessons with manipulatives.

    bring things to show and tell about.

How would you describe your preferred style?  What is your goal as a student teacher as you think about teaching styles and students' learning styles?   Share your thoughts on the discussion page.

C.    Giving Directions

Think about the following questions:  How does your supervising teacher give directions?  Does s/he present them in a variety of ways to accommodate all the learners?  How do you present directions when you are teaching?  How do you prefer to receive directions when you are learning something new?  How do your students like to receive directions?  Where is your supervising teacher when s/he gives directions?  What does his/her voice sound like?  What else have you noticed about the teacher when s/he gives directions?

Discuss your thoughts on these questions with the other student teachers on the discussion page.

D.    Whole-Class versus Small-Group Instruction

Teachers use a variety of strategies for grouping students.  Three common practices are teaching to the whole class, flexible grouping (grouping based on students' academic needs), and cooperative learning.

Discuss the following on the discussion page:  What are your ideas for effective engagement of learners?

How will you design flexible groups in your own classroom?

How does an effective cooperative group or pair look in your classroom?

E.    Students with Special Needs

What do you already know about the special-needs students in your classroom?  What questions do you have from the other student teachers and/or your professors?

F.    Using Instructional Materials to Enhance Teaching

Textbooks are often used as the basic curriculum for a classroom, however, they do not have to be the only resource that is used.  Look at the list below and decide which you are comfortable with using and which ones you need to learn how to use more effectively.  Discuss your strengths and weaknesses on the discussion page.

Overhead Projector                      Computer

CD/DVD                                      Video Camera

VCR and TV                                Tape Recorder with Headsets

Slide Projector                             Filmstrip Projector [what is                                                 that?]

Video Recorder                            Digital Camera

Copy Machine                              Transparencies

Props/Maps/Globes                       Calculators and Other Manipulatives

Science Experiment Materials         Other?

G.    Using Questions to Promote Thinking

You should monitor the number and kind of questions you ask students during a lesson.  Many beginning teachers often ask more questions during a class period than could possibly be answered and spend much of their energy answering their own questions.  An easy way for you to check your questions is to tape a lesson and view it later. Using Bloom's taxonomy as a guide, you can rate questions from rote memory responses to high-level evaluative questions.  A classroom presentation should be rich in a variety of types of questions both students and teachers ask.

How would you rate your questioning techniques thus far in your student teaching journey?  Talk about it on the discussion page.

H.    Homework

What are your ideas about using homework as part of the curriculum?

What happens in your classroom if students don't do their homework?

How is homework corrected or graded in your classroom?

I.    Tips From Teachers

Get To Know Each Student In Your Class!

	Use a variety of strategies every day or in every class
	Experiment with different styles and strategies; ask the students which ones work for them.
	Use problem-solving techniques and open-ended questions.
	Integrate the arts into lessons.
	Ask other student teachers for their successful ideas.
	Adapt lessons for learners with special needs
	Talk with your cooperating teacher about the needs of the students and follow her/his lead.

See The World Around You!

	What do you see that makes you feel good about beginning this day?
	What is pleasing about your school and school surroundings?
	What is positive about the students you are working with?
	Add beauty to your school or classroom by:

            -     Hanging student artwork in a visible location

            -     Buying flowers or a plant for the classroom (and the teachers' room)

            -     Growing something in the classroom that is beautiful.

            -     Hanging posters and pictures that are pleasing to look at.

            -     Collecting positive news stories and posting them.