TEACHERS
The internet is an educational tool which lends itself well to sharing information. Teachers are no longer isolated in their classrooms. The internet connects to a professional fraternity. If we pool our ideas everyone gains.
Let me begin by sharing with you some advice that I found somewhere a long time ago. Although I am not aware of the original source, I have kept this list of advice on the top of my desk for many years and I still consult it frequently.
Advice for Teachers
Be consistent. Relationships rapidly deteriorate when one party doesn't know what to expect from the other.
Smile and let yourself laugh.
Listen to your students, both in and out of the classroom, then listen some more. Respect confidentiality at all costs.
Chat with your students in informal settings ( halls, cafeteria, sports events, etc. )about topics not related to school. Give your students the chance to get to know you as a person.
Practice what you preach: if you insist on students arriving on time, do so yourself; if you want your students to be quiet, speak softly.
Keep in mind that your students are more important than the subject you teach. If you truly believe this, your students will pick it up and give your subject greater importance.
When students misbehave, condemn the behaviour, not the person. Avoid sarcasm, ridicule and other putdown messages.
Set a limited number of class rules and stick to them. Make sure your rules are based on practical reasons which are made clear to students.
Avoid calling for the vice-principal or principal when students misbehave, unless the situation has reached critical proportions. If you call for help every time students act up, they will conclude that you have no authority.
When conflicts occur, and they will, try to resolve them without damaging the student-teacher relationship. Try to adopt a problem-solving approach rather than a win-lose strategy in which students are perceived as the enemy.
Turn difficult situations into opportunities for further language learning. For example, if you notice students passing notes to each other in class, ask that the notes be written in english.
Congratulate your students. Make them feel good about themselves. An ounce of praise is more effective than a pound of criticism.
Greet your students at the door at the beginning of each class. Be at the door and say good-bye when they leave at the end of the lesson. As the ad goes, make each one of your students "feel like a somebody".
Avoid punishing the whole class when one student makes you angry.
Suprise your students with treats now and then: a film, music, etc.
Be yourself in the classroom. Don't try to hide your feelings from your students or act differently than you would with your colleagues.
If you expect your students to leave their problems at the door, do so yourself.
Allow yourself to say "I don't know". There is nothing wrong in falliblity.
Treat your students as people with equal status, not underlings.
Enjoy!
Information
Here's a list of 30 different ways to say "Well done!"
16 ways to become a better teacher! Click here!
Visit this page to see some excellent new ESL activity books. What makes them different? These activity books offer hours and hours of fun activities which encourage students to read, write and speak in English. Click here!.
Also, look to this page for interesting sites to visit. Our researchers work tirelessly to bring you the best.
Links
 CyberJourneys is an excellent resource site all ESL teachers. We're convinced that you will appreciate the diversity of links listed there.Click here!
Here is a new site which generously provides us with click art related to our target vocabulary lists. Click here!
 This is a site offered by the government of Canada. It provides all kinds of interesting statistics.
Click here!
This is another site offered by the governement of Canada. Teachers can find census information here.Click here!
This site is an excellent source of quizes and games.Click here
This site has some interesting lesson ideas to share. Click here!
This site offers a new lesson every day.Click here!
This site is a lot of fun for young learners.Click here!
This site has lots of tips and lesson to share.Click here!
This looks interesting, but you have to be a member.Click here!
Need a job? Feel like working elsewhere? This site page has lots of url addresses for you.Click here!
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