top of page
Writer's pictureTab & Mind

5 ways to be a better teacher

Updated: Mar 2, 2022


article title
Becoming a better teacher is not an overnight process. The best teachers are those who will learn, adapt, and improve themselves with each new day. Teachers who can be open to change and work hard to help their students achieve the best outcomes possible will find success.

Here are five ways you can become a better teacher today.

Every teacher wants to be a better teacher. In fact, if you don’t want to be a better teacher, then reconsider your profession. Teachers who can achieve this self-improvement are generally the ones who will find the most success in their field.


A great way to be a better teacher is by learning new teaching strategies and techniques that can help you improve in areas you may not have been strong in before.

For teachers, the learning never stops. It’s about always growing and evolving with your students.


Here are five ways any teacher can be a better teacher tomorrow and every day after that.


1. Listen to your students and create a classroom environment that encourages constructive criticism

middle school students working in classroom

Create a classroom environment that encourages constructive criticism.


Some teachers don't want to hear what their students have to say. They may fear that it will get back to their superiors or that it might damage relationships between the students, but it is crucial that you encourage all of your students to share their opinions about your class and any concerns they may have.


You won't always agree with what they have to say, but if you work hard at hearing their concerns and responding compassionately, you will eventually gain their respect.


2. Take initiative in your classroom, plan ahead, and have materials ready to teach


If you are constantly looking at the clock and making students wait while you scramble around looking for something, they will lose respect for you very quickly. It is important that you get your lesson prepared so that you can start on time and end on time.


Take initiative in your classroom. Plan ahead, and have materials ready to teach what you need to teach. This will give your students a sense of structure and order and will make them feel more prepared. It will also help you prepare more effectively.


3. Use technology as a tool to enhance learning, not as a replacement for teaching


A lot of people believe that technology is the answer. They believe that if they can just get their hands on more technology, then their teaching will be better. But this is not true. Yes, technology can be used as a tool to make teaching more effective. However, it is only a tool and cannot replace the teacher in the classroom.

Technology should never replace a teacher. While I think technology can enhance learning, it cannot replace the human element. There is no substitute for a great teacher.

There are some really great ways to use technology in the classroom, such as teaching your students how to use online tools that can make them more productive outside of class.


Technology should not just be used for games or entertainment because it has many educational benefits as well. Teachers should use these tools to help students learn and maximize their learning potential in the classroom and beyond.


4. Focus on improving yourself, not just the class or the students


It is a cliche, but it is true. If you want to change the world, change yourself.

A vital part of your role is your own growth and development. If you’re not growing, then you’re dying.

There are going to be many times when you feel like your class or student is not improving at the rate you want. You will feel like the material is not sticking or that your students just don't get it.


This can lead to frustration, which will in turn cause you to rely on strategies that make your class or students fit into some pre-defined mold that you think is best. This is a good time to take a serious look at yourself and what you're doing.


The truth of it all is: what works for one person does not necessarily work for another. Your job as a teacher is to support and guide your students so that they can find their own way through the material.


If you do this well, then over time, they will find success. In the end, this is what teaching is all about: helping people discover their own potential within themselves and their lives.


5. Encourage your students to spread positivity throughout the school with their very presence


If you want to be a better teacher, there is one thing that you need to do above all else: make your students feel good about themselves.


If you can give your students a reason to feel good about who they are, where they are and what they're doing, then you will have taken an important first step toward encouraging them to be better learners in the classroom.


The simplest way to do this is by making sure that every student knows that you place value on their presence in the classroom. Some teachers do this with material incentives — a prize for attendance, or extra credit given for students who show up on time — but those only go so far.


Your students will know your true feelings toward them when they see you making an effort just because it's the right thing to do. It's not always easy, but it makes a difference in their lives and can help you develop a positive reputation among them as well.


The most successful teachers have a teacher on the inside of them. They challenge themselves daily to evolve as teachers and learners. Although change can be difficult and uncomfortable, it is necessary for growth.


Changing how you approach your teaching is a choice. Being willing to grow through constructive criticism and advice from others will impact how you look at teaching and learning forever.


It’s important to remember that these skills are not innate — they take practice, patience and perseverance. So be willing to make mistakes; take opportunities when they arise and never stop improving — that's how to become a better teacher.


Overall, the best teachers out there are the ones who will work hard to make their students successful. They don’t give up when things get hard, and they don’t leave their students behind. If we want to become better teachers today, we must do the same.


No amount of hard work or commitment is ever above criticism. And if you can handle that criticism, it may just be the push you need to become the very best teacher you can be for your students.

 

Recent Posts

See All
bottom of page