Participation goes beyond engaging your students with grilling questions and pop quizzes…
It may seem painfully obvious, and surely, we have looked at ways already which students and teacher alike can participate to ensure that both empathy and respect are instituted in the classroom. Nevertheless, motivating both yourself and your students to participate in every facet of your class is not as clear cut as it may seem to be at times.
Participation within one's own future as a teacher and as a student is an important aspect of anyone's life. Inclusiveness has the benefit of empowering one in making the right decisions for themselves and in the end, for others. By being active yourself and enthusiastic about each and every lesson you are providing your students with more than just an upbeat class. You are giving them valuable insight in how they can take charge of their own interest within class by actively participating themselves.
It is important that as a teacher you ensure that all students participate actively in their daily classes. The skills they acquire from interacting with you and with their peers in class can only help them learn the social skills necessary. These skills include but are not limited to:
• Confidence in voicing opinions in a public forum.
• Communicating effectively between peers and elders.
• Communicating appropriately and with conciseness amongst and between peers and elders.
• Encouraging creative thought by exchange of ideas between peers and elders.
Furthermore, by ensuring that students gain a healthy respect for their peers and elders, in turn they also gain something just as if not more so important, namely self respect. Self-respect leads to students making difficult situations work, even when the one chosen in future is not the one they would prefer.
Don't despair if you find yourself teaching a less than enthusiastic class! Often times students are shy themselves and especially when teaching teenagers, the fear of looking less than perfect can often plague an individual way past high school. As for those teachers who still find teaching large numbers a bit scary, don't try and hide the fact. Rather, embrace it! After all, by reminding your students that you're human as well, they just might take what you have to say more at face value.
Remember, by actively engaging your students and by having them actively engage you they are learning much more than if they were simply copying notes off the black board. Go on, dare to be a little different!
Copyright © 2006, Mario R. J. Corbin and Suite 101. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use will constitute an infringement of copyright.
