Teaching Strategies for School Teachers

Before you start the lecture, inform students about the main topic and preferably put it down on the board encourage them to take notes. Try beginning the topic with a quiz, statement, story, anecdote, riddle or joke, if it suits the topic. But it isn’t possible always, but certainly sets the right zone for the rest of the class.

Pan your sight over the entire class you’re addressing. This not only ensures interaction but also provides you with details of who’s not attentive. Go at a uniform pace, stopping by to emphasize on vital points and recapitulate every ten minutes. All the while you must look for signals that tell you if you’re being understood or not. Blank faces, fidgeting, looking out through the window or turning eyes away as you look at them are warning signs. Address these signals immediately, or an hour’s lecture will be in vain.

Are you being too fast, inaudible or incommunicable? Whatever the reason, identify go over the topic again and clarify doubts at once. This way you’ll be saving yourself a lot of trouble when exams are round the corner.

Use your voice well, emphasizing important points a little louder. Pause when you’re just said something critical. Repeat when necessary. Allow students the time to take notes of these points.
Write down headings and subheadings, key points and proceed to the conclusion logically. Refer your notes to be focussed on the lecture and refresh your memory.

A picture is worth a thousand words.Educational aids are a must to keep the audience rivetted to the topic. Use collages, charts, models, audio-visual aids, pictures, tapes or else, improve your drawing skills.

Don’t let your lecture turn dry, instead make it interesting by posing a question, eliciting responses, discussing, critically examining and clarifying doubts. This would also give inputs on comprehension skills of the students, and help you package your class better.

Conclude the class by emphasizing the main points, doing a summary or asking a student to run through his notes, for the benefit of all.