Teaching Strategies

Capture Your Student's Attention

Thomas Edwards
Glasgow, UK

When I was in high school, I had a homeroom adviser who was well liked by everyone in our school. He knew everyone and everybody knew him. Every year, he welcomed his freshman classes by asking each student information about them: their names, age, where they lived, what music they like, what food t... more

Changing Sides

Lawrence Uy
Laguna, Philippines

For my class debates, I sometimes throw in a surprise twist. After a discussion on the issue at hand I direct the class to divide themselves into two groups. Those who agree with the premise stays on the left side and those who want to refute it stays on the other side. It is important to have a cle... more

Finding The Main Idea

Kathleen Gibson
Boston, Massachusetts

After a reading exercise, ask the students to identify a particular sentence that states the main idea of the whole story or article. The students must be able to explain why they chose that sentence. Allow them to engage in a discussion until all the students come to a common understanding. Reading... more

Group Discussions and Experiments

Ruth Harris
Lafayette, Louisiana

It's hard to get a student's attention in a science class. A group experiment is always a good way to get a student interested in science. Not only do you get them to participate in class, they become inquisitive through the experiments. You can do this by asking them questions and also encouraging ... more

Groupings

Tim Santos
MM, Philippines

When giving classroom activities always group your students according to their strengths and weaknesses. Do not let them do the grouping on their own. Make sure they are all divided equally taking into consideration the fast and the slow learners. With the groupings, the class is able to learn how t... more

Guide Questions When Reading

Lori Adkins
New Haven, CT

To help your class with their readings, make sure that they understand the message through the author's point of view. Assign your students to read a book, an article or a short story, and then urge them to list down questions that came into their minds while reading, questions that they would like ... more

Homework Box

T.S. Wong
San Diego, CA

A large class can be hard to manage without an assistant. To make things easier in my class of 40 students, I place a "homework box" on my table before the period starts. Students have to turn in their homeworks in this box before they go to their seats, those who submit late will get deductions... more

How to Achieve Topic Expertise

Heather Morris
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Involve your students in the research and discussion of the lesson that you are to discuss. As a regular assignment, your students should find at least one additional resource material about a certain topic that you have just discussed. Allow a fifteen minute discussion on the resources that they ga... more

Improving Speaking Skills

Sean Floyd
Donegal, Ireland

To help students with their speaking skills, keep them involved in recitations. Let them read aloud in front of the class every now and then. Make up games that include putting their thoughts into words and sharing them to the class. You could try making up words or phrases together. Begin the game ... more

Interactive Word Wall

Deb Slater
San Antonio, TX

In my 2nd Grade class, I made my Word Wall with the help of the entire class. Not only do they help me decorate the wall (we have themes: Jungle, Beach, recent animated films, etc) but I also ask one pupil everyday to add two words to this wall and share its meaning to the class. It gives an ordi... more

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