Success Analysis - Magazine Article

Published on January 2017 | Categories: Documents | Downloads: 43 | Comments: 0 | Views: 241
of 1
Download PDF   Embed   Report

Comments

Content

Last month at Teaching Monthly we ran a poll of Of all the staffroom conversations we know and hate, and the one that winds me you all up the most runs something like this: Teacher A: ‘I just can’t get Joe Bloggs to finish his coursework. He’s always late to my lessons and he never hands his homework in on time. Last week he even called me a hideous old fool and stormed out of the classroom.’ Teacher B: ‘Well he’s never any trouble for me. In fact, he’s my best pupil.’ Of course, the entirely justifiable course of action is to pourhurl Teacher B’s coffee down their immaculately stacked pile of markingall over their smug little face, but it does beg a serious question: why are some teachers able to get fantastic work out of even the most ill-disciplined, unmotivated teenager? The first thing these successful teachers all get right is in building relationships with their works-shy rogues. They take time to get to know the student in question, so that, instead of the childm remaining just another name on the class register, they become a real person whose motivations and concerns the teacher understands. A former colleagueOne Advanced Skills Teacher told me his first response to any child who acted up was to talk to them (in detention if need be) and to find out their friends and their attitude towards the subject. He always found this an invaluable method, firstly in helping the student overcome difficulties they may be having in his lessons, or simply as a means of changing the topic when confrontation threatened. While this approach may be very effective in building bridges and creating a positive working atmosphere, many will raise the objection that it’s all well and good, but it does nothing to ensure the work actually gets done. Here, the best teachers all bear in mind the idea of taking small steps to reach a challenging goal. Many students find the idea of tackling a whole essay so overwhelming as to be completely defeated by it. Mike Sheldon, head of advanced learning at Cowthwick College in Leeds, though, has a novel solution. He gives students tasks one step at a time, ensuring that they can complete each section successfully before moving on. LastlyBut above all, what all successful teachers have in common, especially dealing with demotivated, uninterested youngsters, is the courage to get up and try again after every defeat. It may not be easy, but if there’s one thing that guaranteed to turn off any teenager is the knowledge that someone’s given up on them. You may have to keep reminding yourself that you’re doing the right thing, and you may have to enlist the support of others (did you ever notice that great teachers never work alone? They’re always getting others to help them!) but every great teacher we’ve talked to stresses the importance of showing young people that you believe in their potential. And on one final note, there’s one characteristic that all unsuccessful teachers share: arrogance. Remind yourself of that when your smug colleague crows about her success with the demon boy of 9B, and take a wander past her classroom when you’ve got a free. You can put money on it she won’t be half the teacher she claims to be in the staff room.

Sponsor Documents

Or use your account on DocShare.tips

Hide

Forgot your password?

Or register your new account on DocShare.tips

Hide

Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive a link to create a new password.

Back to log-in

Close