Here, I am sharing few principles that may help every teacher to make his/her class very effective and enjoyable one for all concerned. As a teacher, my long search for certain basic ideals finally helped me to develop these principles. Sometimes, you may be having your own ideals and views, slightly similar or different from mine. I will be very happy, if you are ready to share and discuss. Such discussions will surely help each one of us to become a better teacher.
Ideal Principles
In a healthy, nurturing community children will grow.
With developmentally appropriate guidance and firm expectations, students will learn.
When students are given choices and activities relevant and authentic to their lives, they will be motivated,
and scholars will take flight
10 Principles
These ten principles you can emphasize in your classroom, and it will help you in becoming an ideal teacher. Many of these goals align with accepted educational practice world over. I will sum up these as support for my beliefs as an educator.
1. Students will feel valued and welcomed
• Welcome students to the classroom before school starts and school day
• Build relationships with students and parents via telephone, notes, e-mail, newsletters, conferences, etc.
• Encourage students to get to know each other and make friends
• Students should see their work and personal/cultural stories within the classroom
2. Students will take responsibility for themselves and their community
• Students will help set classroom expectations
• Students encouraged to help their classmates succeed (peer tutoring, group projects, collaborative learning etc)
• Have high expectations for all students and give them the support they need
• Do not accept failure
3. Students will learn reading, writing, maths, science, social studies and the arts in an integrated and relevant way
• Give examples of how lessons apply to students lives
• Create lessons with good standards from multiple subjects
• Students should read, write, and journal in every class subject.
4. Students will observe the world around them – past, present and future
• Students will share current events with the class, or create their own news show
• Students will look at issues (current and historic) to address how they might affect their lives today and in the future
• Students will study how they fit into the natural world around them
5. Students will be able to apply and transfer the skills and knowledge they learn
• Lessons will require students to apply skills that they have already learned
• Assessments and practice work will encourage higher-level thinking (Blooms taxonomy)
• Lessons in one subject will call upon knowledge learned in other arenas
6. Students will be able to ask questions and research answers
• Give students the opportunity to research their own interests
• Encourage students to find answers to their questions before asking for help
• Teach students how to conduct research in the library and online
7. Students will be able to creatively solve problems and think critically
• Give students the opportunity and support they need to address real problems
• Encourage accountable talk and respect for differing opinions
• Teach strategies for critical thinking and creative problem solving
• Classroom or school service project that reflects student concerns
• Expose students to multiple media sources, for critical reading and discussions
8. Students will experience the rewards of learning and hard work
• Emphasise hard work over perfection
• Emphasise learning and progress over competition
• Celebrate learning
• Model enthusiasm and life-long learning
• Allow student choice
• Use multiple intelligences (MI) theory to celebrate individual talents and increase motivation
9. Students will learn about culture and community to better understand themselves and others
• Practice culturally responsive teaching
• Make sure students see themselves represented in the curriculum on a regular basis (religion, caste, culture, gender, socio-economic status)
• Invite community leaders and parents into the classroom
• Expose students to other religious and caste practices, cultures and communities to foster understanding and empathy
10. Students will experience the beauty and wonder of the arts
• Integrate the arts (writing, music, visual arts, dramatic arts) to motivate, enhance learning and expand on other subjects
• Encourage students to express themselves through the arts
• Share excellent pieces of literature, music, visual art and drama with students
