Being a Teacher

Dr Dennis Francis Commonwealth Education Trust

Foundations of Teaching for Learning

Course 2: Being a Teacher Week 1: What is a teacher?
Lecture 1.1: What does a Teacher Do?

What is teaching?
All teachers have some theory of what teaching is when they are doing it, even if they are not explicitly aware of that theory...
Gow and Kember, 1993 cited in Biggs and Tang, 2007, p.15.

What is the role of a teacher?

Teaching is a process intended to support learning by inducing a change in the person taught. Teaching is an art of communicating a message that will have impact on your audience. Pedagogy is the art or profession of teaching.

Connecting my teaching to their learning

I am teaching Spot to throw a frisbee. But he is not throwing it.

I said I am teaching him, not that hes learning.

If my students have not learned, how can I call myself a teacher?

Good Teachers and Bad Teachers

What makes a teacher good and what makes a teacher not so good?

Students perceptions of Good and Bad teachers

Good teachers
Are helpful and supportive

Take time to explain material in depth

Are friendly Understand and know the subject well Use a variety of teaching style and innovative approaches Are fair and have equal standards and expectations of pupils, regardless of test scores

Students perceptions of Good and Bad teachers Bad teachers

Are mean and unfair Are unwilling to help or explain material and ideas Are judgemental of pupils parents and siblings Are unwilling to changein their teaching methods Are disrespectful of pupils Are unsympathetic to pupils personal problems

Are intimidating and verbally abusive

Gives interesting lessons Treat us with respect And as individual

What makes a good teacher?

Believes in you

Does not make fun of us If we get things wrong

Helps us with our Work even outside Lesson time Explains things clearly Shows an interest in us and What we do outside school

Is approachable if We have a problem

Is fair and consistent, Treating everyone equally Protects our rights And prevents name calling

Helps us feel Part of the class

Is prepared to acknowledge He does not know everything

Knows our name

Is ready to be flexible and acknowledge Mistakes if he makes any

Has sense of humour

Helps us if we make mistakes

The Task of the Teacher Setting the environment for learning

The environment for learning is developed by:
The way in which we set up the classroom The way we ask questions Our ability to find the teachable moment

Teachable Moments
A teachable moment is an unplanned opportunity to recognise what is happening within the class to make connections and to extend and rich learning

Teachable moments can happen anywhere, any time and occurs when the student:
is receptive is open to learning is actively seeking information

Examples of Teachable Moments

When a student asks a question When the student demonstrates knowledge that has been acquired formally When the student makes a provocative statement, such as, This always happens to me. When the student expresses misinformation or lack of information When a student expresses a need for change When you are performing a procedure or giving treatment
When you have a teachable moment consider, the environment, who is present, and your approach to the students openness.

Establishing a Classroom Environment

How does it look and feel? Is it an inviting and stimulating environment? What do you think of the dcor, materials on show, your desk, students desk and student and other pictures on the wall? Is it well laid out? Could it be improved? What is good about it? What is lacking?

The Task of the Teacher Clarifying Objectives

Clarifying Objectives
Setting realistic goals Identification and clarification of associated objectives: knowledge skills dispositions

The Task of the Teacher Motivating Students

Creating materials and activities to arouse interest Engaging in goal setting with the students Using rewards and (sometimes) competition Providing students with knowledge of their progress

The Task of the Teacher Sequencing Subject Matter

Organising what will happen in the year, in the term, each week Organising different classes during the day Organising activities of each class in a way that will encourage students learning Connecting new knowledge to the outside world

The Task of the Teacher Understanding individual differences

Considering Individual Differences means:
Being able to recognise and understanding differences in your classroom such as: Gender, race, culture, language and social class

The Task of the Teacher Providing for individual differences

Doing something about individual differences means:
Taking account of ways in which students background impact on how they learn Trying to group students in ways that will maximize their learning Using resources that are appropriate to the range and differences among your students

Some things to do next

Make a list of all the things that you have do as a teacher. Ask your colleagues to add to your list Out of your long list pick what you think are the ten most important things that teachers do. Think about how you might get better at doing these things.

Foundations of Teaching for Learning

Course 2: Being a Teacher Week 1: What is a teacher?
Lecture 1.1: What does a Teacher Do?

Being a Teacher
Dr Dennis Francis Commonwealth Education Trust