"The teacher, like the artist, the philosopher, and the man of letters, can only perform his/her work adequately if s/he feels him/herself to be an individual directed by an inner creative impulse - not dominated by an outside authority." [B.Rusell, "Unpopular Essays", 114]
So many preservice teachers rapidly develop skills of survival as part of their teacher training, especially when it comes to lesson planning in the beginning. For new teachers, survival means managing a classroom. Survival however is short lasting; but tips and techniques for becoming a better teacher is ongoing. The reflective model, developed by Schon (1983) and is a universal model taught during the periods of preservice teacher training to show the path towards becoming an excellent teacher.
As you carefully read through these levels of teaching development, think where you are at or where you are headed for each stage differs from individual to individual.
Stages of Preservice Teacher Training
1. The survival level is part of the natural process where lesson planning counts for success, but it's more like the beginning teacher's echo: "I want to get in and out of the class alive." This usually applies to teachers just finishing teacher's college and in the beginning stages of practicum.
2. The material-oriented level is a lesson where the syllabus is the main objective. Here the teacher intends to teach the students through the lesson plan; the common goal of "let's finish the book" is apt here.
3. Finally, there is the student-oriented level where the teacher constantly adapts him/herself to the class. A teacher needs the confidence, experience, empathy and finally, the knowledge bank to reach the kids.
Tips and Techniques for Learning How to Become a Good Teacher
The real secret recipe is characterized by the second level of teacher development or, conscious competency. Asking first yourself (then colleagues and teachers if possible) the right questions before and after a lesson plan for example, is part of this competency. The more you reflect as you try and tackle certain problems and issues in your teaching, the easier it will be for you to open up to the journey of finding your own individual teaching style, which is crucial for reaching the student-oriented level.
Here are few beginning tips:
1. Believe in yourself. Take what is good for you yet be open.
2. Believe in your own teaching and management styles.
3. What works for one lesson, does not necessarily work teaching and for another lesson. Use this important piece of knowledge and make your decisions accordingly.
Implications for Improving Your Lesson Planning
Levels of Reflectivity - This is basic to the teaching process.
1. Survival. Technical issues - how and what am I going to teach? How am i going to get through the lesson?
2. Pupil oriented level. Affective issues - What happens to the students and what happens to me before during and after the lesson? What went well? What didn't? Did specific parts of the issue plan conform to my educational values?
Over to You: The more you use opportunities after the lesson to reflect on you and your students' performance, the easier it will be for you to improve your role as a teacher.
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