The Way of the Teacher

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Hands-on experiences, drawing, role-play, building, and the use of drama and sports are all examples of kinesthetic classroom activities.

What makes a great teacher?

Though a great way to keep students engaged and, at times, simply awake, very few classrooms employ kinesthetic learning activities exclusively. One upside is that kinesthetic learning is rarely based on technology, as the method values movement and creativity over technological skills. Differentiated instruction is the teaching practice of tailoring instruction to meet individual student needs. It initially grew popular with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act IDEA , which ensured all children had equal access to public education.

Today, differentiated instruction is used to meet the needs of all types of learners. Teachers can differentiate in a number of ways: Some examples of differentiation include: Though differentiation is focused on individual student needs, it is mostly planned and implemented by the teacher. Based on student investigation and hands-on projects, inquiry-based learning is a teaching method that casts a teacher as a supportive figure who provides guidance and support for students throughout their learning process, rather than a sole authority figure.

Teachers encourage students to ask questions and consider what they want to know about the world around them. Students then research their questions, find information and sources that explain key concepts and solve problems they may encounter along the way.

Findings might be presented as self-made videos, websites, or formal presentations of research results. Inquiry-based learning falls under the student-centered approach, in that students play an active and participatory role in their own learning.

Student-Centered Approach to Learning

But teacher facilitation is also extremely key to the process. Usually, during the inquiry cycle, every student is working on a different question or topic.

In this environment, teachers ask high-level questions and make research suggestions about the process rather than the content. At the end of the inquiry cycle, students reflect on the experience and what they learned. They also consider how it connects to other topics of interest, as an inquiry on one topic often results in more questions and then an inquiry into new fields. Inquiry-based learning can make great use of technology through online research sites, social media, and the possibility for global connections with people outside of the community.

Expeditionary learning is based on the ideas of the educator who founded Outward Bound , and is a form of project-based learning in which students go on expeditions and engage in in-depth study of topics that impact their schools and communities. The learning in this model includes multiple content areas so that students can see how problem-solving can happen in the real world--ideally, their own worlds. A student in a big city, for example, might study statistics about pollution, read information about its effects, and travel to sites in their city that have been impacted by the problem.

When they have a good understanding of the circumstances, students and teachers work to find a solution they can actively implement. Technology-wise, G Suite Google Docs, Sheets, and Drive and internet access can aid student research, presentation, and implementation of projects. Personalized learning is such a new educational model that its definition is still evolving.

At the heart of the model, teachers have students follow personalized learning plans that are specific to their interests and skills. Student self-direction and choice in the curriculum are hallmarks of personalized learning. Assessment is also tailored to the individual: That way, students in personalized learning classrooms can progress to work beyond their grade level as they master topics, while students who need additional help have that time built into their daily schedules as well. Personalized learning is extremely student centered, but teachers are required to lessons, look at frequent assessment data, and meet with students to make any necessary changes to their learning plans.

Game-based learning comes from the desire to engage students in more active learning in the classroom.

In a game-based learning environment, students work on quests to accomplish a specific goal learning objective by choosing actions and experimenting along the way. As students make certain progress or achievements, they can earn badges and experience points, just like they would in their favorite video games. Fortunately, there is software that makes this process much easier, like 3DGameLab and Classcraft. Teachers who use this software may be better at differentiating quests for students because of the data the programs provide.

But it is still very much focused on the student, who works at their own pace and makes independent choices in a gamified environment. Teachers Know Teaching Methods. Teaching Methods The term teaching method refers to the general principles, pedagogy and management strategies used for classroom instruction.

5 ways teachers can challenge inequality in the classroom

Is it representative of the students in the class, reflecting their experiences, histories and questions? Many behaviour management systems in schools are incredibly shaming for students.

Having your name written under a sad face, being made to stand up during assembly, or being asked to sit on the floor in another classroom, are publicly humiliating practices that would seem shocking if carried out in an adult place of work. Such practices are a quick fix in a busy school day but, in the long run, rarely result in behavioural changes from a student. Consider where space could be opened up for conversation rather than punishment.

Teacher-Centered Approach to Learning

Ultimately, all of these methods aim to help prioritise teacher-student relationships and the relationships between students in the classroom. When we connect with the students in front of us by respecting them as people, listening to their point of view, acknowledging their difficulties and acting from a place of compassion, we end up being able to critique the assessments the students take, rather than the students themselves. It is from here that we build a classroom, a school and an education system that is more inclusive of everyone.

Follow us on Twitter via GuardianTeach , like us on Facebook , and join the Guardian Teacher Network for lesson resources and the latest articles direct to your inbox. Looking for a teaching job?

Or perhaps you need to recruit school staff? Take a look at Guardian Jobs , the education specialist. Rethink ability grouping Is ability grouping necessary? Check your language Interrogate the language you use to describe your pupils and the language used by students themselves in the classroom. Goldsmiths GoldsmithsUoL Lecturer in Education Studies Laura Teague takes a hands-on approach to challenging the inequalities that are produced in the classroom.

Avoid quick-fix punishments Many behaviour management systems in schools are incredibly shaming for students. Nurture relationships Ultimately, all of these methods aim to help prioritise teacher-student relationships and the relationships between students in the classroom. Follow us on Twitter via GuardianTeach , like us on Facebook , and join the Guardian Teacher Network for lesson resources and the latest articles direct to your inbox Looking for a teaching job?

Topics Teacher Network Teacher's blog. Teaching Schools Secondary schools Primary schools Inequality blogposts.

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