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How you feel about your teaching
makes all the difference ...
If you ever think back on your teaching sessions I'm sure you've had
one or two 'please miss this is boring' … moments. If your
group haven't actually said it, then their body language may have
given them away.
We all want to think that we are dynamic in the classroom. But we
aren't all blessed with bubbly personalities. Sometimes we just
have to work at making projects more involving. And sometimes we
have to work on ourselves and the way we work it.
Many years ago when I first started teaching I was told to plan the
work and work the plan. It all seemed way to simple a suggestion.
What did it mean?
Well for starters, look at your plan for the session. Presume for
a rash moment that you aren’t responsible for the class!
If you were invited to participate in this class how would it
feel? Would you feel drawn into it with enthusiasm? Would
the way you plan on presenting it hit the spot? Frankly, could
feel good about the session, get involved and achieve what was being
asked of you?
If there's any doubt here then think again about how you plan to
deliver the session. Thrash out your plan and make it bullet
proof. Know your subject so well that whatever comes at you, you have a
way of handling it.
Now I've sat in on a good many craft classes, as both a learner and a
teacher. Some were OK, others outstanding and a few appalling.
And the thing is, it isn't just knowing the subject matter that makes
sessions compelling.
The melancholic personalities out there will be depressed by that - and
as one given to planning and re-planning, I often lost it in my early
days.
Then it all seemed to come together, and one of the reasons for this
was mixing my personality with the craft itself.
You see it didn’t matter that I knew my stuff inside out. I
needed to be able to share it. And that's the vital part.
Having planned the work you then have to work the plan so that you,
your subject and your learners are getting the best possible learning
experience.
If your personality is laid back then sorry, but you need to be able to
gyp things up a bit in the classroom. It's a known fact that those with
enthusiasm for their subject pass it on to their learners.
We can't help being influenced by dynamic, bright personalities.
It's like moths to a flame. You just have to find a way to glow a
little brighter when you're teaching. Add a little pazazz to your
teaching style.
If you tend to talk quietly, rev it up a bit. Talk more
animatedly - but not faster! If you go fast the message and
instructions may get lost. Put a smile on and be ready to share
your project with the best attitude in the world.
Believe in your ability to run an absolutely winning session. If
it helps, see everyone participating and learning. Visualise a
successful outcome - for your and your learners.
Really put yourself into it. And don't forget that how you deliver the
subject may make a lifetime of difference to how your learners view
their ability with the subject you're delivering.
I've taught numerous people who've told me that they were never able to
master craft subjects. Why? Well it surely wasn't because
they had no aptitude. Rather that the teacher or facilitator
sharing the subject never made them feel adequate.
Maybe because the subject was too advanced and the basic skills hadn’t
yet been mastered. Or I suspect because the facilitator didn’t build
people by encouraging them to expect and achieve success.
You and your attitude may make all the difference to how you, and your
learners feel, believe and achieve in the classroom.
=====================================================
Geraldine Jozefiak is passionate about
crafts and their place in
education. Be part of raising standards in teaching and learning
by offering the best possible creative opportunities.
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Looking for
craft
projects, books, teaching manuals or courses? Need ideas on what
to teach and how to teach it?
"The Craft Teacher" can save you time and stress in teaching and
learning crafts.
Click Here => http://www.the-craft-teacher.com
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