Cultivating the Standout Teacher
By Shana Tolliver
Imagine walking into a classroom that is creatively decorated and filled with students whose eager hands are waving in the air as they fully participate in the class assignment, students who know the schedule of the day and follow the rules without challenge. This isn’t just a nice dream; it is the reality for many teachers who have learned the secrets of becoming a standout teacher.
They are often the “go-to” teachers for their colleagues who need help with problem-solving or lesson plan ideas, and they have been recognized by their peers and administrators as having that something special. While many are born with the gift of being able to teach, becoming a stand-out teacher requires more than just a gift. It takes a deliberate plan of action to take control of the classroom and empower students to believe in themselves and become engaged in the learning process.
Based on criteria from school districts around the country that recognize teachers who go above and beyond, there are some common factors that these teachers have in common. They’ve mastered some of the secrets about how to bring the students in their classrooms to another level.
Committed, Firm, and Fair
Students can weed out the “real teachers” within minutes of an introduction. They are skilled at knowing whether adults really care about them. This is the first measure students use to decide whether they will listen to you. Once you’ve passed the commitment test, your students also want to know who you are and what you stand for. Do you mean what you say and say what you mean?
Students will respect firmness as long as it is fair. This is an area in which one must be consistent. A teacher who establishes boundaries early on will avoid problems later.
You will need to explain the rules in detail and make sure that your students and their parents are aware of the expectations and classroom policies. Students and parents appreciate clear rules.
Discipline in your classroom should never be about raised voices and confrontations. It should be about the consistent application of established rules. Learning will occur in a safe environment that you, the teacher, establish from the beginning and that you make sure will be fair but firm.
A stand-out teacher establishes clear rewards and consequences and is willing to follow through on them.
Students Will Meet Your Expectations
Do you really believe your students can learn – not only learn but excel? A standout teacher sees beyond what the student brings and seeks to develop the untapped potential. Students will meet your expectations, whether they are high or low.
Unfortunately, low expectations have become the norm for both teachers and students. Many teachers do not want to fight the expectations that students have because realigning their thinking is both time consuming and difficult.
Students might come into your classroom with expectations about how you are going to act and what they will be expected to do. However, just because they harbor these beliefs does not mean that you have to conform to mediocrity.
Let them know that you have high expectations for them. Give them a road map of what success looks like in your class and help them to understand how to achieve. Provide support materials and information about where they can get additional help – whether from you or other sources. Offer incentives as reinforcement for positive participation and achievement.
Set the bar high, but don’t make it unattainable either. Make sure that you’ve given them the necessary tools to be successful.
Creativity is Key
While students’ attention spans may be short, with carefully planned lessons and activities, you can keep them engaged. Look for ways to involve them in the lesson. Make discussions and assignments relevant to their lives. Seek out their opinions and get them out of their seats whenever possible (while still maintaining order). Students typically respond well to breaks in the routine.
Take the time to decorate your classroom appropriately for your grade and subject. Think outside the box instead of using the standard materials that can be found at any teacher supply store. You can use your classroom decorations to reiterate lessons or key points or offer a fresh, unique perspective on your subject.
You should use projects as an opportunity to introduce different approaches to learning. Students typically enjoy them, and it offers a break from “pen-to-pad” instruction.
Teach Through Experience
Allow your students to learn through sight, sound, and touch. Look for ways to make learning an experience. While there is certainly a place for traditional teaching methods, including standard quizzes and tests, you should also seek to incorporate experiential learning in the classroom. Seek to reach students where they are by incorporating movies, sports, field trips, and speakers into your lesson plan.
There is a wealth of information and resources available to help you come up with some unique ideas. Good guest speakers and topical debates and games can help to bring a subject to life.
Seek Out Help and Identify a Mentor
Even the best teacher will need someone with whom to bounce ideas around or share challenges. No one can make it by themselves. Seek out “wise” mentors who can help to guide you along in your career. That person may be someone in your school or at your university, but make sure that he or she is current on issues, is a good listener, and has some of the attributes that you are aspiring toward.
Innovative teachers also access the resources that are available. There are numerous grants, teacher training opportunities, fellowships, and teacher exchange programs that can offer teachers an upper hand in bringing new ideas to the classroom.
Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
Students and parents want to know what to expect. Make it plain from the first day. Take the time to share with parents from the beginning of the year to the end. Introduce yourself on paper to parents and spell out the objectives and goals for your class, your grading system, planned events and activities, rules and consequences. Even if you discuss this at back-to-school night, it is important to have these plans and ideas documented clearly for parents and students to review at their leisure.
Once the rules and expectations are established, you can begin the journey of bringing your classroom to life and becoming a true stand-out teacher.
Related Articles on Teachers Of Color:
Surviving the First 5 Years of Teaching
Ten Rules for School Safety – In and Outside the Classroom
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