The worst nightmare of a teacher would most probably be a room full of inattentive students. While there are a lot of factors contributing to the same, still, everything would eventually reflect on the kind of teacher the class has. This is difficult for a teacher to argue especially when the classes before or after him are having a blast – each time.
Ultimately, the teacher has to take responsibility. But before things get even slightly out of hand, it would help a lot if the teacher starts taking full control of the situation. After all, no matter how people put it and regardless of the students’ age, profession and social standing, inside the classroom, the teacher is the boss.
In hindsight, in order for a teacher to get his students’ full attention and interest, even amid some distractions, he must first earn the latter’s respect. Here are some matters teachers may want to consider practicing.
First – Dress appropriately. A teacher must always look neat and presentable, from head to toe. He must wear the prescribed school uniform, if any, at all times. He must be well-groomed.
Second – Be prepared. A teacher must always come to class ready for his subject. This includes the lesson plan, tests, activities, assignments, visual aids and other pertinent instructional materials. Corollary to this, it is important that he always starts and ends the class on time.
Third – Communicate well. A teacher needs to speak in a clear and audible voice. He must have a good, if not excellent, diction and pronunciation. He must avoid talking non-sense. He must refrain from using foul and vulgar language. He must address the students appropriately, depending on their learning level.
Fourth – Set rules and standards. At the start of the first semester or quarterly period, whichever applies, a teacher has to be clear about what he expects from the students; in the same manner that he tells them what they could expect from the class including the lessons and the grading system. This makes disciplining the students, when called for, a lot easier. This also helps reduce, if not eliminate, confusion and anxieties among the students.
Fifth – Develop an environment conducive to learning. A teacher must decide on the kind of classroom ambiance he thinks would best suit his students. Creating a fun and relaxed environment would be great. In fact, having a pleasant sense of humor would be a plus for a teacher. This helps a teacher build rapport with his students. This also eases the tension among the students. The teacher must be careful though in not making the students too comfortable inside the classroom as this could have negative implications.
Sixth – Be fair and reasonable. A teacher must avoid playing favorites in class. This creates antagonism among the students, which is the last thing a teacher would want to happen. Moreover, he must grade the students according to their merits. They must be given what is due them. On the other hand, a teacher must be firm in his discipline of the students. In this instance, he must act in accordance with the pertinent rules and regulations, taking careful regard of the students’ rights, particularly that of due process.
Seventh – Have special skills and talents. Aside from the teaching qualifications that he must comply with, it would help a lot if the teacher likewise possesses non-academic skills like drawing, acting, singing, dancing and the like.
In any case, it must be kept in mind that it is not only the teachers who need the students’ reverence. Conversely, many teachers either do not know or they fail to see the fact that the students actually yearn for the same quality of respect from their teachers.
By: Mrs. Gemma G. Dela Cruz | Teacher I | Bonifacio Camacho National High School | Abucay, Bataan
