My style is enthusiastic. Students find out that I am eager and interested in math. They learn that I am a math geek though otherwise normal. My interest in math stimulates their interest. Also, I am eager to help them eliminate negative feeling about math, and enjoy learning math and apply it. I concern with the student's success.
I try to be as articulate as possible. I always start the class with a review and recap of what we learned about in the last class. I find that I have to sometimes talk slowly and also repeat important sentences/points.
Since I'm new to teaching, I find it helpful to speak with other instructors and observe them when possible. I always see something new in each person's teaching style!
Something I have thought about is that by attending others' seminars and professional development offerings I can begin to keep a log of some of the best practices I see, and beging to practice modeling some of them in my own classes. For example, I once had a colleauge who was adamant about the "on the minute" start. After this first session, I now see the value of that. What may seem like a small issue, is not.
Martha moore
As part of my instructional style, I model the objective(s) for the day, allow the students to model the objective(s), individually or in groups, allow them to practice with homework, and finally students are assessed. I continue the same pattern throughout the term. However, during the classroom practice period, I make sure I address as my learning styles as possible.
Theresa,
Good strategy. These student relationships in many cases become life long as they progress through their careers. The more they can get to know and respect each other the more experience they will gain in terms of being able to work with others upon graduation.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Chakita,
I agree. The more input you can get from those around you the better your planning will be. Then you can customize your instruction much better for each class.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I use the visual style: When I'm explaining the math formulas for accounting and finance, I will write the equations on the board and explain them to my students at a pace that they can understand.
I also utilize various instruction styles, depending on the capabilities and skill level of the students at hand. I have found that in most cases, a combination of text, video and hands on style is beneficial to all students. :-)
I agree. Although students might have diffrent learning styles, you can never go wrong with relating what the students are learning to their oun personal experience. Asking the students to share relevant stories will help them retain the concepts they are learning. This in addition to sharing our oun related stories and experience.
I am interested in improving my connection with students. I think the best way to do that is to help them to get to know each other, with structured and unstructured activities. I have found in the past that the more my students connect with each other, the more they make good choices about school and their futures.
I believe watching other instructors and give clear communication to the students is the key. I am constantly learning from my peers and welcome their help whenever possible.
I believe that by talking to other instructors and getting feedback is a great why to begin to enrich my Instructional Style. I will also employ more discipline to ensure my student understand what is expected of them and make sure that I am alway using clear effective communication.
I also use visual techniques to "enliven" my courses. I use information and images from major websites to demonstrate, for example, an image that generation X and beyond might not have had the opportunity to see and touch. Also, in the field of finance and accounting it helps to visit online resources that provide real, pubic documents of organizations that pertain to the subject matter.
Lesson plans, Lesson Plans, Lesson Plans, are crucial to effective teaching. They provide both the teacher and student guidence as well as some structure.
I use activities, social interactions, or problem-solving situations that allow my students to practice and apply the material that was lectured.
Erik,
I wish you continued teaching success. You are on the right track with your professional development.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Sandy,
Do you have to cover each PP slide in class. A suggestion I would make if for you to give out copies of the PPs in the form of 6 slides per page and lines on the right for notes. Then you could highlight the key concepts on certain slides and then go into the small group discussions just as you mention you are planning to do. The each small group could report out on their findings in the slides they were assigned. This way every slide will be covered but by different groups in different ways. I welcome you to the teaching profession and if there is anything I can do to help you with your professional development let me know.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Take classes about instructional improvement like ED101 and other courses which max knowledge is providing for us. In addition the use of the three M's
Dr. Gary,
Thank you for your encouraging words.
Gilbert
