Hi Maria,
Mistakes are inevitable. They are bound to happen to everyone. Own up to them, learn from them, and move forward.
Patricia
Hi Jaime,
Very big of you to correct yourself in front of your students, this is certainly the right thing to do. You never want your students to get incorrect information from you without correcting them.
Patricia
By having an agenda and class activity plan to adhere and implement.
Being punctual and feel relaxed so that instructor will not have to rush in remaining time as seen when they are late.
Have guide notes to walk through the lecture
and refer to when instructor forgets some key points.
I make sure I am overly prepared for all of my lessons. I go over lesson plans at great length the day before. Also, any time I've made a mistake or mis-spoken, I always correct myself and inform the class.
I don't think one can totally avoid mistakes, (if we could they wouldn't be common) but owning up to mistakes and showing how they can be corrected or avoided, (in hind sight of course) is a very good learning tool.
If I am prepared I will reduce the amount of mistakes. I also need to realize that I am not perfect. I will make mistakes. I need to be able to change, correct, and go on after a mistake. I like to call it "character building". I learn from each mistake to hopefully avoid it again in the future.
Hi William,
Boundaries must be established in a student/instructor relationship. Keep business strictly professional.
Patricia
Hi Lori,
Great points mentioned! Preparation will save a lot of headaches.
Patricia
Come to class organized and prepared with more than enough material to cover the time allotted. Arrive early so you can set up at your leisure and interact with those students that arrive early. This will help to solidify your image as a competent and professional instructor.
Lori
Hi Deborah,
We all make mistakes! Don't stress, accept them, learn from them and move on.
Patricia
Hi Nancy,
I am the same way! I can teach a course a million times, but I will review my lesson plan each time. There is nothing more satisfying and confidence building to ensure that you really know.
Patricia
No matter how often I've taught a class, I always make it a habit to review my lesson plans, notes, and any materials I'll be using the day before my next session. I can only feel comfortable in the classroom with my students if I am well-prepared and know that I've safe-guarded as best I could for any mistakes that
may occur beforehand.
One way is to write down the mistake in the margin of your notes so as not to repeat the same mistake in the next class
For what ever reason, I catch myself mispelling words on the board as I write them. My students and I have a laugh and then move on to the next topic. as it said in the beginning of this module. Humor is the best response.
Ways to avoid common mistakes is to take notes after your classes and review the notes the next time you teach that subject. This way you learn from yourself.
You can also incorporate new ideas from other instructors and improved the quality of your course if you strive to improve with each semester.
I like to establish boundaries between the instructor and student. Our human instincts can rise to the forefront quite often. The instincts of seeking help from others on personal issues, getting people to like me, and nuturing others(a.k.a. mothering) all seem quite normal for relationships with family members and friends. Keeping those attributes in check in the classroom using the boundary barometer can maintain the balance.
Hi Annie,
Yes, these are key points! Preparation is a BIG MUST!
Patricia
Be prepared. Review every thing before class.I like to make notes(when I am reviewing and after the class).
Hi Mary,
Students should be commended when finding mistakes. I like to tell my students "good catch", you can see how proud they are of this comment.
Patricia
I totally agree, but it sure makes me squirm when those mistakes rear their ugly heads. I usually will commend the student by saying,"good eyes" or "great proofreading." This will sometimes call for an adjustment to an assignment. It can be used as a confidence builder for a student with self esteem issues.
