Threats and punishment
Some teachers resort to threats and punishment with the hope that students will learn what they want them to learn. Time-outs, a call to the parents and extra homework are some ways these punishments are meted out. In extreme cases, teachers beat or verbally abuse their students.
During moments of stress, when a child is in the process of being punished, short-term memory may be lost. Learning stops. If this way of teaching or raising children continues, it is very possible that the child's ability to learn will be compromised. According to Jensen (1998), children who have faced an extremely stressful childhood find it very difficult to focus in class. The teacher can make a difference by taking this into account and finding ways to engage the child. Instead of sending a student out of the classroom for being disruptive, the teacher could say a few kind and encouraging words. Gradually over time, the student will realize that the teacher does not resort to punitive measures. They will recognize the fact that the teacher respects and values them. They, in turn, will respect and value their teacher.
A challenging environment
The above scenario captures a classroom where students are not challenged. The lessons are boring. The tasks are mundane. Students cannot be blamed for this alone. It is the educator's responsibility to create a challenging environment for every child. If the tasks are too easy or too hard, children will lack motication. (Hunter, 1982)
Emotions
Emotions play a huge role in how students' learn. Through dialogue journaling, teachers can learn to understand their students. By creating a regular and personal channel of communication with their students, teachers learn to appreciate the various emotions their students are going through. This will help the them treat the child appropriately. I recently created an e-journal where I communicate about with my students on a weekly basis. They share their thoughts and feelings; respond to them by giving suggestions or simply
Relevance and Meaning
Learning should not be simply relevant, it has to be meanigful. If you teach a child, who has a car, how to change a flat tyre, that is relvant. If he gets a chance to change a flat tyre, that makes the whole learning experience meaningful.
To help students develop their understanding of concepts and make them more meaningful, teachers can ask them to create venn diagrams, or mind maps and use graphic organizers in order to understand the patterns and relationships between things.
To help students develop their understanding of concepts and make them more meaningful, teachers can ask them to create venn diagrams, or mind maps and use graphic organizers in order to understand the patterns and relationships between things.
The students were trying to understand how famous and infamous personalities are heroes to some people. The concept of "perspective" is hard for 9 year olds to understand. This lesson, using a Venn diagram, was very successful. The students were engaged though out the lesson as they tried to find similarities between a freedom fighter (to some), a terrorist (to some), and a famous cricketer.
Attention Span
Our attention span constantly changes because the blood flow to our brain varies. Ideally, teachers would like their students to listen to them or focus on a task without getting distracted. In order to gauge a student's understanding of a concept, tests are no longer considered an accurate method, as the student may not have been focused during that period of time. This is why educators should not rely on tests as the sole method of assessments. Portfolios, which span a considerable length of time, would be a much more comprehensive way to gauge a student's progress over a term. Focusing for too long can have a detrimental effect on learning. Students need variety. They need time to practice and reflect. These things are often overlooked by educators who are in a hurry to cover the curriculum. Educators need to have short lessons followed by an activity and a plenary session. Students could talk about 2 things they have learned and one question they still have. They could reflect about their learning in their journals.