Teaching has to be one of the most noble and praise worthy professions that are out there. But teachers today do face a lot of challenges. Let’s discuss how to overcome them.
There are a lot of difficulties that teachers have to overcome when they are in the classroom. In today’s world teachers are overworked and they are also expected to essentially shape the future of the nation with very limited resources. When we talk about shaping the future of a nation, what we mean by that is that teachers are responsible for the futures of their students, the young people who are under their tutelage. These young people are the people who will be the ones who will lead the country in the future. So in helping groom these young people and minds to be better prepared for the future, they are essentially training future leaders of the nation, be it in the corporate world, the academic world or whatever profession it is that their students decide to pursue. This responsibility is not so little a responsibility and teachers have to be on their absolute best at all times in order to meet the requirements of the job that they have chosen. However, if teaching seems way too challenging, feel free to check out Suzanne Klein’s Blog to get some suggestions on alternative career options.
Teachers have to deal with issues such as problem students, insufficient funding and a whole host of other issues within the realms of the classroom. Teachers need to be able to face these problems head on if they want to make sure that they are making the best use of the school year. If you happen to be a teacher then you will undoubtedly know what it is exactly that I am talking about and you will also know about the huge courage that it takes everyday from the side of the teacher to make sure that the classroom keeps on going properly and that their students are engaged and learning. Let us now take a look at some of these issues that teachers face everyday and how it is that they can address them properly.
Furniture of the classroom
The classroom needs to be optimized in order for it to be an optimal learning space and environment. Even the furniture that is present in the classroom is absolutely vital for the students. You need to have furniture that is durable in order to make sure that both you and your students can finish the lessons that you are giving them without any interruption. The furniture in the classroom needs to be apt for the people who are going to be using them. For example, younger students will need chairs that are made for them. So they will need smaller chairs.
You should ideally talk to the principal about possible options for a floor chair. You should then choose the chairs that have the potential to take the weight off of students. Make sure that you also factor into account the comfort factor of these chairs when getting them
Promoting Harmony in Your Students
In the line of teaching, you will undoubtedly come across students who are aggressive. They will try to provoke their classmates by continuously arguing with them. Even so, remember that it is your duty and responsibility to hold the ground in order to pacify an argument that is heated. It is important to be calm even when you happen to be losing patience. Good teachers convert these same arguments into practical avenues for learning. You should always try to make sure that you encourage other students to share whatever it is that they can about any misunderstandings that may happen within the realms of the classroom.
Another pro tip here is to talk to the problem student alone after class. For sure there are students who are just troublesome but there are also students who appear to be problem students but in reality they are going through emotional distress. This is the reason that they always look for arguments. You can quite significantly cut down on their stress if you are privy to some strategies for conflict resolution.
Student Participation
You may also find that there are particular students who have a habit of taking over the classroom and making sure that their voice is the only voice that is heard. While being proactive is completely fine and dandy, it should not and cannot be at the expense of the other students. The classroom needs to be a friendly environment where all students feel comfortable and welcome to participate. All of the students that you have should be able to express themselves without fear of repercussions and learn. You should actively make it a point to make sure that everyone in the classroom is taking part in discussions. At the same time, make sure that when you are doing this, you are not targeting that one talkative student nor singling him out. You are just trying to make sure that everyone gets the chance to participate.
Making sure that you engage those who are bored or uninterested
While it is one thing to deal with overactive students, it is a completely different ball game when it comes to students who do not like to take part in classroom activities and discussions. Experts recommend that you call each student by their name. You should make sure that you are providing a safe space for all students as some are more sensitive than others. Make sure that you keep it light even when you have the need to correct them.
There are a lot of students who are quiet because they are not confident, they feel as though they are not smart enough. You should take this chance in order to be their guiding force. Help find them something that they are actually good at and enjoy doing.
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Kokou Adzo
Kokou Adzo is the editor and author of Startup.info. He is passionate about business and tech, and brings you the latest Startup news and information. He graduated from university of Siena (Italy) and Rennes (France) in Communications and Political Science with a Master's Degree. He manages the editorial operations at Startup.info.
