Being organized sets the tone for the classroom. If you are prepared, your students will be prepared to learn.
It is important to be organized and prepared for each class because it keeps the class from being chaotic and keeps students on task and motivated which makes them succesful.
Janie,
Yes, in order to create the forward, positive flow, we have to know what is on, what is next, how time has passed, and how much time is left, and so on.
Barry Westling
Jonathan,
Yes, and by doing our prep work, we're better able to handle the spontaneous dynamics that occur on any given day in most classrooms.
Barry Westling
Cynthia,
I can relate to your comments. I call this scanning or keeping my radar tuned to how students are responding to my instruction. If needed, addressing spontaneous questions or occurrences requires a different kind of preparation, that of extemporaneous preparation in order to keep the class moving along, avoiding getting derailed into some unimportant diversion or distration. Students appreciate my keeping on track.
Barry Westling
Being organized is so important and it is very productive and ready for presentation.
It will give the students a great representation as it is presented to them in class by the instructor as he or she is prsenting moving on in class.
Regardless of class size, teaching is a balancing game of personalities, attitudes, and social backgrounds. It is a complex environment; a delicate social system. When an instructor is organized and prepared for each class, it elimates the stresses of not knowing what to teach, or what is coming next, and allows the instructor to focus on the always changing environment of the classroom. It allows the instructor to adjust the content and delivery mtthods for each class session, so that each student can gain the most from the instruction.
First of all in my field we tend to be anal retentive and odd --- however, this is a good thing in preparation for the classroom as I always have lecture/activities/handouts etc. This is great for the students because they see and feel that I am eager to share my knowledge and experience with them. The downfall can be that an instructor needs to be flexible enough to "step back" from the lesson plan and address questions/side conversations etc. that may arise or better still be flexible enough to perceive the students aren't getting it from the lesson plan and "change gears" to convey the material in a different way (but again being prepared allows an instructor the ability to do this because if you know the material you should be able to present it in more than one set fashion).
Antonio,
Yes, education, training, work experience, work ethics, and commitment to doing our best all contribute to prior readiness. And the culmination of that is when it comes together, day by day, changing lives in the classroom.
Barry Westling
Research indicates that teacher preparation/knowledge of teaching and learning, subject matter knowledge, experience, and the combined set of qualifications measured by teacher licensure are all leading factors in teacher effectiveness.
Sara,
This sounds very forward thinking, and I would agree that each new module will be fuller and better as a result of these efforts.
Barry Westling
I was brought on to being teaching a new curriculum while the primary instructor did the teach-out on the new curriculum. I spent a lot of prep-time both before and after to ensure things ran smoothly, but the most important thing I think we did was to create notebooks, files, and computer records of lecture notes, hand outs, tests and quizzes to make the process easier the next time each mod comes around. I made notes like the journal discussed here about what worked and what I would try next time. It has made for a much easier flow for the primary instructor now that the teach-out is complete.
Stelian,
Practical steps from someone who has been there. Your cake example is good one, because in it's simplicity, it clearly demonstrates the possible wonderful or awful consequences associated with good preparation and organization.
Barry Westling
Its like baking a cake. If you are missing sugar, better get it now or else your cake will taste very very bad !!
Get your assignments ready; get your test ready instructor!! The more organize you are, the more easier will be to teach and students will have more respect and opportunity to learn more effective. " Your cake is about to go into the oven and you realize you have no pan! oops!!
govern yourself accordingly.
Catherine,
Absolutely! Students are perceptive and even if they arn't as prepared as they should be they sure notice if their instructor is not. Good preparation also conveys confidence for the instructor and competence to to the students. We may be a master of our craft, but we are only as good as our preparation suggests.
Barry Westling
I can hardly expect my students to prepare for class if I show up unprepared, without necessary supplies. It sets a tone of expectation, leadership, professionalism.
Thomas,
Structure is important. Students need order, and having a planned out set of activities, organized dates and assignments, and a game plan that students can rely on. Without order, students get distracted, misunderstand expectations, and sometimes, that impairs their classroom performance.
Barry Westling
Not only do you set the tone, but it provides structure for the students. They not only know what is happening, but they know about when as well.
Corina,
Preparation is never a wasted activity, and how little or much is readied before a class is always beneficial for students. And students are perceptive as to when the instructor is not prepared too. That probably doesn't create a real positive atmosphere, especially if repeated without reason.
Barry Westling
