1. Model as you teach
When presenting a new subject to your class, it helps to include a demonstration. While some students will be able to grasp a new concept by hearing the information alone, others — particularly visual learners — will need to see it.
In certain classes, this is practically required. For example, when you’re teaching a math unit, you’ll usually need to display your work on the board, or else your students will be completely lost. This is how the class can follow along with better comprehension.
Some students will need to see more than one example to get a good understanding. Make sure that you include several different demonstrations for each new unit, as repetition is a big part of committing new ideas to memory. You’ll see a big difference in visual students’ test scores when you implement this method.
2. Make mistakes
Teachers are the ultimate resource for students when it comes to learning. When you are presenting your lesson plans, you usually show the right way to do things. This is a great way to introduce a concept, but you also want to solicit a more in-depth understanding.
A great way to do this is to make intentional mistakes and ask the class to fix them. If you’re an English teacher, you can write an excerpt on the board and riddle it with grammar mistakes. Instruct your students to identify these mistakes and rewrite the passage correctly.
This method requires kids to apply the knowledge they’ve gained in class. It also gives you a chance to evaluate how well each student comprehends the subject.
Once everyone has completed the assignment, you can review it as a class. Show each student how the passage should be written and address any questions that may arise.
3. Work as a team
Splitting the class up into different teams to complete an assignment is a teaching strategy that works wonders, especially at age groups where students insist on always working with their tight-knit circle of friends. Group assignments encourage teamwork and help your class to succeed.
For instance, in science, you can split the class into small groups for lab-based assignments and give each person a certain job to complete. You might have one person perform the experiment, another write notes, and someone else read instructions, for example.
Make sure to pair children who need extra support with those who have a better understanding of the material. This way, those who are stronger in the subject can share their knowledge to help their peers understand it better.
All in all, group work is a fun and interactive way to teach a lesson.
