teacher as a teaching aids...??

I’ve found one article that I think is quite useful for us (trainee teachers) to ponder... in our obsession on designing and creating a bombastic teaching materials, we, as a teacher too can become one of the teaching aids? Funny, right? But when I’ve read this article, it makes me realize how to maximize my own potentials... (ehem...), in the teaching process. I believe with an interesting and cheerful attitude of the teacher itself may become as one of the tools in grabbing the pupils' attention, when we first entered the classroom. I still remember in my primary school years (a long long time ago), there's one teacher that i like so much. so every time she entered the class, I will give my full concentration and I having my own quality time even the subject is not that interesting. but the teacher's fun attitude, really make the lesson enjoyable. I wonder if I can be like her someday. hehe... so, to all of my friends, try and read this article. maybe it can be a turning point for you like it did to me!

Although we now live in a high tech world and have access to a variety of teaching aids, there is one aid that is convenient, portable, uses no electricity, can be used effectively in light or dark and is available all the time. Yes, the teacher him or herself! In my experience as a teacher I have discovered that I can involve students more in classroom discussion and activities if I follow certain simple steps.

• Movement

• Use body language

• Eye contact

• Gesture

• Facial expression

• Speech

• Student talk

• Names

Movement Sitting behind a desk or standing on a dais creates a "distance" between the teacher and the students. Try to have an aisle and enough space between the rows so that you can easily reach those at the back. This way you can talk to individual students, allow the shy ones to ask questions quietly without the fear of embarrassment, as well as check their work and help them . Some movement on your side is essential, because it allows the students to focus on you.

• Stepping forward to emphasise a point, small steps towards different sides of the class lets the student feel that the teacher is taking genuine interest in what he or she is saying.

Use body language Your body should be in your control. Hold it in such a way that you look alert and awake. Avoid slumping and sagging. Just as too little movement is boring, too much movement can be a distraction.

• When your posture is erect it puts the you in control of the situation and the students realise this. It also encourages the students subconsciously, to become alert as well. You may notice the lazy ones sitting up and paying more attention to what is happening around them.

Eye contact
Make an effort to keep eyes lively, aware and interested. Move them around to take in everything. Fix them on specific students, but not for so long that they become uncomfortable! Avoid focusing on the worst or best students.

• Knowing that the teacher demands eye contact keeps the students alert. It also gives the teacher a feedback on the impact of what he or she is saying. This is particularly important in large classes, where "distance" between the teacher and learner is greater, and individual attention is more difficult.

• An effective teacher can control class behaviour to a great extent by the expression of his or her eyes.

• Make sure that you make eye contact with each student, so that it seems you are talking to him or her individually.

Gestures
Arms and hands are a very expressive visual aid. They can be used to describe shapes, actions, movements etc. but, remember to keep still while listening to a student . Otherwise the message sent to the student is that he is being long winded or boring.

• Habits such as fiddling with notes and books, playing with pens , key chains, or doodling with chalk on the black board can be both distracting and irritating for the student.

Facial expressions
There's nothing worse than a constant frown, which discourages students from asking questions, feeling free to discuss a problem or coming for help.
A smile can work wonders.

• It encourages the student to participate more actively and dispels the notion that the teacher is over critical.

• Look interested while a student is speaking.

• A smile, a grimace, a curl of the lips, raised eyebrows etc. at appropriate moments will send messages as needed.

• Send positive vibes and cultivate a sympathetic and encouraging expression!

Speech
Have you ever heard yourself speak? Do you know what your voice sounds like to others? A low monotone or a high-pitched voice can be difficult to understand or grating to the ears. Does the sound of your voice send students to sleep or running for earplugs?

• Be critical of yourself. Try taping your voice - listen to yourself. Where are you slipping up?

• Make your own personal checklist:
  • Are you speaking at the right volume?
  • Does the end of your sentence fall so low that students sitting at the back cannot hear?
  • Are you hemming and hawing too much?
  • Are you speaking too fast?

Student talk Break the monotony and give students plenty of time to talk! It will keep them alert. Make small jokes, be friendly. Names Call students by their name. It sounds warmer and friendlier and lessens the distance between the teacher and learner. The teacher is the best teaching aid. Be sure that you are using yourself to the full effect.

the key of success

today's class is about presentation... one representative for each group, presented their smart board developed material in front of the class. the one that is presenting, basically who is the one that create the best material in their group. talking about secret weapons of the group. the best?? some of them have to repair their work after they receive feedback from their friends. positive comments as well as critics on the materials, given by selected group that prof pointed, before the presentation. i enjoyed today's class as their presentation gave me some ideas on how to improve my materials. this is not plagiarism, guys! it's a process of learning...hehe *wink* I'm not the best of my group, of course but still, i am glad because i was given a chance to improve my work! hopefully, i will be able to produce something that is useful and interactive enough to be use d in classroom teaching. hopefully, insyaallah...!

progress of my assignment

class of 3rd Sept. there was no lecture for today as prof maznah gave us a chance to do our assignment. the smart board assignment. well, i just install the software in my laptop and still in the process of exploring and experimenting. i guess better late than never aite? for this assignment, i will do it for an English subject but just can't figure out which topic to choose. there are a lot of things going on in my thoughts but i can't help my self to feel the fear as i didn't know how to make it interactive yet appealing as what smart board is all about. learning in fun and interactive way. hmm... i hope that my group members can guide me along my way to complete my assignment as i actually quite, not fully *doink*, L.O.S.T... hehe.. but determination is what i need to stay ahead and accomplish success...! but again, this is hard ok. well, based on my performance during my video assignment, ( which is NOT that impressive to compare with others *sigh*), i really hope that i can improved on this assign... but the question is HOW? hmm... just need to think as positive as possible. insya-ALLAH...

COURAGE

In the midst of thunder and storm
Stood firm and fair
In the den of lions
Stood undaunted and unshaken
In the Kingdom of the ruthless
Stood robust and intractable
Through thick and thin
Stood in a posture of perseverance
Through temptations and trepidations
Stood poised to triumph
Under Pressure
Stood steadfast
Under machinations and defamation
Stood confident and unperturbed
Believe in yourself
Such is Hope And Faith!
Keep it up!
Keep “HOPE” Alive!




YESS...! hope is still there. keep it ALIVE!


this poem might reflect today's class. it's all about hope. in today's class, ms chin has taught us about ICT and learning principles in the classroom. i found it very helpful for the 'future' teacher like us. how to integrate technology in classroom teaching? that is why it is important for us to equip ourselves with the correct knowledge so that we can applied it in the classroom. and yess, today's class also help us to ponder upon many things that we need to apply in our assignments. thanks to ms chin, she has showed us our senior's work on the smartboard's assignment and it really help me a lot. when i look at their work, it gives me some kind of idea and inspiration to work on my 3rd assignment. i know that i have to change all my negative attitudes towards my study, to a possitive one. hopefully, all the idea that i have in mind can be apply in thi assignment! *doink!* now, it's only about the matter of time. but, who cares! possitive + ideas = success!!!

the stress is with ME...!!!

today... 3rd ASSIGNMENT is revealed... *doink*. hmm, lots of my friends used to say, 'it's the process of learning. assignment is what campus life is all about'. but for me, STRESS!! yes. they can say whatever they want, bla, bla, bla... but i've tried to work under pressure but definitely, i've failed! hehe.. i know that i can't run from this yet, i'll tried my best to accomplish it. owhh... the 3rd assign is all about the smart board.. we have to design teaching material by using the smart board applications. wow. we just learnt about it last week, and taadddaaaa....!!! here comes the challenge! *sob* *sob* now i really need to find the software so that i can do this assign without any difficulties... but first... really need a day off... so that i can re-charge my battery before i put on my thinking cap, AGAIN! hehe