Be creative in the classroom!
Engaging your students is so important.your energy becomes their energy. Keep students motivated with a balance between group activities, demos and lectures.
Hi IDA-MAY,
Students enjoy a variety! No one likes being just lectured to all the time. Try utilizing field trips, guest speakers, hands-on activities, scenarios, case studies, role playing, mock teaching, etc.
Patricia Scales
Hi Jessica
One asspect of being creative in the classroom is to incorperate different teaching techniques that will include all students. It also will introduce a new style of teaching that can help student relize a new way of learning and open them up to new teaching styles.
Yes, I do agree that keeping them involved with group hands on projects does keep the students attention. and it also gives them a sense of accomplishment. I love to see the smiles on their faces when they see their finished creations.
Hi George,
Students are driven by motivation! We as educators have to be our students biggest cheerleader!
Patricia Scales
Hi Jessica, If you show motivation to the class of students and get them involved in some way, like hands-on, or motive speaking their thoughts on a subject or action, you will get better results at the end.
Hi Stephen,
It is amazing the input students can share to make the course even more exciting/interesting.
Patricia Scales
That is a great way to approach the situation of routine in the classroom. I always try to start the class by engaging the students directly. For example, I will ask students who I know have jobs in the industry, and ask if there were any situations at work. This way we together can discuss and learn how to navigate the culinary industry. Sometimes there are some funny situations which lighten the mood.
Hi Tammy,
I love your outlook! You are a veteran like me, and we still have to be our students biggest cheerleader even after all these years!! I have been teaching for 24 years, and I still expect nothing but the best from my students. You get from students what you expect.
Patricia Scales
My late night and early morning students come dragging in. Sometimes, they want to "take it easy." In other words, they want to sit back and let me spoon feed them with powerpoints and lecture. As a 20+ year educator, though, I know this doesn't promote learning, so I put on my "cheerleader" face and get them moving (literally) by doing a variety of activities, including grouping them to make them move around the room and actually have to interact with a variety of classmates (not just their best buds).
Hi Jessica. The instructor/leader of the course absolutely sets the tone of the class. I try to be very mindful of keeping the students focused on their positive traits and accomplishments they have achieved to date. I find when a student is encouraged to do well ,and shown how to do well, his/her energy and ability to learn accelerates. When I begin to feel tired leading my students, I remember how important it is to encourage them and guide them in the right direction.
Hi Jessica,
The energy level does begin at the top with the instructor. If the instructor is excited, the excitement should rub off on the students.
Patricia Scales
