How do you create your teaching style?

In order to know your teaching style - you have to know yourself. You can’t be the bubbly , energetic teacher if that’s not your personality. Kids can pick up quickly on someone who isn’t genuine and trying to be what they’re not. Your teaching style will also change and evolve as you change and as your students change.

In my experience of 34 years in the profession your teaching style is linked to your character which lets the young people buy into you as a person. If you are trusted and ‘believable’ then the pupils will go on the journey of learning with you. You learn about them and they learn from you!

🌟 Our teaching comes to life when we truly understand who we are and what we stand for. So let's reflect... 💡 Who am I? I am a person who feels deeply. I felt my schooling days were mundane and I couldn't wait to finish my assignments so that I could maximize my leisure time. 💡 Why do I teach? To me, teaching is a mission to ignite the spark of curiosity in my students. I want them to realize that learning is not merely a chore but an exhilarating, lifelong journey. 🔥 Now, I ask you, dear teacher: What sets your heart on fire?

It took me five years to get comfortable in the classroom. I developed my teaching style through practice and trial and error. It was a stressful journey, and I beat myself up when things didn't go well. I always tell new teachers not to mimic other educators. It is not my place to tell them how to teach. They are the only ones who can figure this out. I will say this: as a teacher, don't be afraid to be unique and even a little quirky. The kids won't mind.

I have a very organic teaching style; flexible and elastic enough to fit all my students’ needs. I always start my lessons with a conversation around their learning and then move on to the engagement. I only give a starkly basic instruction so that everyone gets started on the task. Then I’m constantly on the move to check where each of them is in their process and help them accordingly. I feel this keeps the students empowered enough to do the task at hand on their own and ask for help whenever needed. My students’ work is far from perfect but I’m always sure that each one of them is putting an honest effort.

Think about your past experiences in teaching and education. Consider moments when you felt particularly engaged, enthusiastic, or accomplished in your role. What were you doing during those times? What subjects or activities were you involved in? These reflections can provide valuable insights into your passions. Then, experiment with different teaching methods, subjects, or extracurricular activities. Sometimes, you might discover new passions by stepping out of your comfort zone. Pay attention to the activities that excite you the most during these experiments.

Developing a relationship with your students and understanding their learning styles helps to create a creative teacher. Changing your style to meet the needs of your students is an exciting adventure of teaching.

Actually I do not fully agree with this. As we may end up only being too narrow in our choice of teaching areas. The core concept of learning is being able to ‘learn’. And as it’s best said you teach the best what you need to learn the most. So it’s not about your strength in the subject it’s about your fundamental skill of being able to learn and therefore teach. The skills of breaking down complex into simple , building up of the consistency muscle etc are the areas to look upon rather than just my strength in a subject. And this I would specially tell to the beginner. Labeling yourself as good at something is the most dangerous beginning as a teacher.

A traves del conocimiento que hemos adquirido como Formador de formadores, basada en la Norma tecnica Laboral ISO 9000, alcanzamos la base fundamental de los criterios estandarizados para formar. La repeticion y busqueda constante de mejorar cada estrategia y tecnica segun la madurez del grupo que hemos disenado y elaborado nuestra propia tecnica de ensenanza y aprendizaje. Ha sido una combinacion de lo personal y trabajo en equipo en talleres con colegas. La repeticion hace el maestro y el sentido de mejorar cada dia, a traves de estrategias y metodologias como metatraining por ejemplo, ha sido parte del exito de crear un contenido y metodologia dinamica, experiencial y sobre todo significativo, para aplicar el contenido de inmediato.

My strengths are my flexibility, observation and adapting to each situation. I think teaching is one of the fields where these characters are very important. My teaching techniques and strategies involve my strengths. In a school each day is different and each student is different. So strategies have to be adapted accordingly. I enjoy teaching English and microsoft office.

Teaching is a practice that demands lifelong learning. If teachers don’t stop learning, we show our students to do the same. Show others that it’s okay with not always being “the expert” at something new and learn how to adapt curriculum to meet the individual needs of the students we’re charged with caring for and teaching each day. When another teacher shows strength in an area, learn from them.

One way to observe other teachers is to try and see if your school principal can provide a substitute teacher to relieve you for a partial or full day. Ask your colleagues ahead of time whether you can observe them. Of course, this would cost some money for the school site, but it can be well worth the investment. There's also a process called Instructional Rounds that you can consider. For newer teachers though who may be struggling in finding their way, observing can be powerful, and a debrief with the teacher even more powerful about what they were doing/thinking. Often, the more experienced teachers may make it look easy when in fact they've adjusted and thought through many things over time.

Teaching, Coaching and Mentoring are social jobs. They require us to constantly engage with others to learn strategies, techniques and perhaps even about the cultural impact within your society. Likewise, it is important to remain humble infront of our students, that we are learners just like they are, just in different capacities. This makes us relatable and allows us to form a relationship with our students, where we equally learn from them, whilst they learn from us. As an educator, life learning is imperative for us to be effective teachers and this always starts from questioning and inquiring the world we live in.

As the New York State School Music Association holds its 2023 Winter Conference in Rochester from November 30th through December 3rd, with concerts taking place at the Eastman School of Music, I applaud Zachary Arenz as the New York State Teacher of the Year. I send e-mail on a daily basis to my students and their parents to let them know the knowledge and skills I learned on that day, leading to continuing education and professional development. Although most of those methods and materials are either in print or online, I always attempt to attend as many local, regional, and state conferences as possible in person at different colleges, universities, and conservatories in New York State, or in a state that borders New York State.

Collaborate with colleagues and fellow educators to observe each other's classes. Provide constructive feedback on teaching techniques, classroom management, and student engagement. This reciprocal exchange of insights can lead to improvements in your teaching approach. You can also join or create PLCs with other educators who share similar interests or subjects. These groups offer a platform for discussing best practices, sharing resources and learning from each other's experiences. You must stay updated with the latest research and literature in education. Books, journals and articles written by experienced educators and researchers can offer valuable insights into effective teaching practices.

Teaching is an art form. Being certain extinguishes affected and psychomotor components of the learning triangle. In embracing all thought, practice and experiences through full person engagement(s) through myriad modalities of communication and expression, one’s network becomes an icosahedron constantly morphing and shaping and reshaping the ability of empathy with least judgement. This instillation of life long learning for all of life is one of a more effective strategy sustaining self and other, synergistically.

It can feel overwhelming when you're starting out in a new school/grade/position. Finding people who have gone before you and are willing to help is crucial. A mentor in the field, a grade partner who has done it before, a colleague willing to answer questions and even students and their families who can give you insight into the school community. Asking questions can give you opportunities to learn from those who have done this before.

The world has changed and we can't be boring. Engage them as much as possible. There are so many ways such as VR, AR, collaboration, and digital engagement that allow for all to participate rather than raising their hands. If they are wrong so what! Learning starts with engagement. Without it you are going nowhere!

You will always find people who you see as stronger or weaker than yourself. Try to instead accept all the individual differences around you. You will teach certain children better than another has or fail to reach them like the teacher before. Remember to ask for help when needed and offer it when you can. We are all in this together.

I have taught for more than 30 years and I would describe teaching as a dance. There is a rhythm to it and a good teacher works hard to find their rhythm. It is definitely an art and a balance of what is expected of you, what you are good at and the context that you are teaching in. You should be constantly growing and improving. I always acknowledged the dynamic nature of teaching. As requirements change you have to change strategies. As student needs change you have to change what you do to support them. You cannot continue to do the same dance when the music changes.

Sometimes, we teach the same subject again and again and I think that students can feel when not even you can take those words anymore. Every semester, I choose 2 classes to change completely. Another book, or case, a movie or podcast. Working with projects is also great because every project will have a different interaction with students and results. It's important for me not feel like I am on repeat in classrooms.

As a learning from my experience as a Trainer, I would prefer this method to be more effective and result oriented for establishing your unique style of teaching, because every time you meet the learning community, each time you will get to handle different types of learners and with multiple expectations. It's not easy to reach out all by having a standard method of teaching, it requires a lot of unique methodology and techniques to satisfy everyone. Do analysis of the audiences before teaching them and get their attention to you by creating a rapport with them.

Remember in this process to learn continuously. Seek out professional development and knowledgeable colleagues to expand your repertoire. Read the research and understand best practices. Then experiment with those. Evidence-based instructional practices will always make your teaching better.

In my experience as an educator, I found teaching to be as instinctive and intuitive as parenting. There is no one ideal strategy or style that works with all students. I have relied as much on my own personal journey as a learner as I have on the observations and experiences of teaching for four decades. The need to question the status quo, to reinvent in order to remain relevant and excited about education and a larger goal of making education aspirational have all together kept any disenchantment away. Adapting to change, experimenting, getting my hands dirty and sometimes failing has made me a more human teacher with my vulnerabilities. This has warmed my students who learnt how failure can be dealt with.The wins were inspiring too.

Teaching style should be different based on the students skills, knowledge, background and understanding. One teaching style can't be applied everywhere, even though they are studying the same subject. So, the best way of reaching out to the students is to identify the best teaching methods through experimenting and identify the best way to make them understand it better. You have to try and adapt the best method only through experiments. Moreover, nowadays students are too smart and old methodology won't meet their expectations. Because what was successful the last few years ago has become an unsuccessful method by now. So, to be a successful teaching professional, one has to adapt to a new teaching style through continuous experiments.

Efectivamente, experimentar una estrategia y adaptarla segun el publico ira dandonos mas seguridad y por supuesto, observar la respuesta de los participantes ante la estrategia y tecnica de ensenanza y aprendizaje. En nuestro caso, aplicar las diferentes vias de captar la atencion, en cada taller agrega mucho valor, porque llega el contenido a los participantes de manera visual, auditiva y practica segun el dominio del conocimiento. Cognitivo, Socioafectivo o Psicomotor.

Experimentation is crucial to developing a sound teaching style you feel great about. And don't worry, it comes with time, consistency and patience! Have the ability to think outside the box with your students once you get to know them well and try out new strategies you've learned. You will make plenty mistakes, but the great thing about teaching is when you've built a great relationship with your students, they are quite forgiving and even help you work out the mistakes. Don't be afraid have your students evaluate your lessons and teaching style, you'll get great feedback you can use to improve your teaching practice. I got better at honing my teaching style because I experiment and see what sticks and what I need to fix with my students.

In creating our own curriculum we made many many mistakes. The idea we always encouraged was learn fast and never be afraid to pivot. Regarding our new curriculum (4.0) and our domains of the future which will be a bedrock of the Changemaker Curriculum, some of these ideas will land with the learners, some won't and that ok. I've always found the learners have great patience and adaptability when they see risks and creativity within curriculum design.

Experimenting and adapting is the essence of teaching. I can think of my first years of teaching and having a fixed mindset about what I would do and how things would proceed. I quickly learned that nothing is a sure thing. I adapted to students, curriculum, and staff. My success depends on trying new things when things aren't working like I thought they would in reference to relationships with staff and students as well as with students. I often experiment and adapt teaching methods when students struggle with concepts. I do realize that not all styles work for all students.

Students can smell a fake from a mile away! I encourage teachers to bring their truest self into their classrooms and allow students to learn from that person, not just another teacher. By bring your “self”, you’re more likely to feel comfortable in front of your students which will bring down barriers that might otherwise prevent authentic and meaningful relationships to be built I believe that students learned from people that they care about, so give them an opportunity to do that! In the end your classroom community will be stronger.

Teaching is a profession where we bring our true selves with us to work every day. An attorney may have a courtroom persona they adapt, and yes, teachers do "perform" every day. But I believe the best teaching happens when we are authentic. If you are silly, you can be silly and still be effective. If you are compassionate, your students will thrive as a result of your compassion. Be who you are.

Regularly reflect on your teaching experiences, both successes and challenges. Use these reflections to refine your teaching approach and make adjustments that align with your authentic style. Don't compromise your core values and principles for the sake of conformity or popularity. Your authenticity shines when you stand by what you believe in and model integrity for your students. Continuously nurture your passion for teaching. Your enthusiasm is contagious, and it's a key component of authenticity. Show your genuine excitement for the subject matter and the learning process.

As a teacher and principal you must have a strong belief in what good pedagogy and positive school culture and environment looks like.

Our curriculum being truly authentic is crucial in the commitment we see from our staff and learners, never shy away from being truly authentic, thousands of schools are out there doing the same thing. Be true to your mission and vision. The learners will support you all the way if they truly feel its for the betterment of their experiences.

Being authentic and consistent is what I am best at doing. Students like to know that you are human and you make mistakes just like they do. I often laugh and joke with my students but they clearly understand the expectations, rules, and responsibilities of being a great scholar. I understand the consistency aspect of teaching but, I gauge consequences and commitment based on the severity of an incident and how often a student commits an offense. I do hope to build trust with my scholars but it could be perceived differently by the scholar.

I agree! I’ll add being able to adapt regularly. Every student is different and it’s my job as their teacher to figure out what works best for each child. You have to be able to adapt throughout the day, every day, if you’re going to be a teacher long term.

I agree with ‘be authentic’, for sure, but I wouldn’t pressure especially a new teacher to be consistent simply for the sake of being consistent! Of course you need avoid dramatic jumps between vastly different approaches, but I would argue that it’s great for students to see you grow. Having transparency about your own moments of learning and growing as you continue to develop is a wonderful way to model that soft skill for our students. I’d argue that you earn more respect from students, and develop a more meaningful rapport together, when they can see you grow from your mistakes. If you were too harsh yesterday; show them that you see that & adjusted. If you were too permissive, same thing. What a great way to demonstrate authenticity.

Feedback comes from the students and their understanding of the topic and concepts. This is true for all levels of learners. You want to move every student up a notch. Sometimes we move the easy ones and think we have done well. But when you have an assessment and the best students don't get it, it is your fault. Reteach in a different way and retest.

Never shy away from feedback. During our PBL modules we always allow the learners to give feedback on our PBL Modules and what could be improved and done better. Sure sometimes the phasing and wording could be better, but 99% of the time it comes from a good place of wanting the experience and school to be better.

I always self-reflect in hopes of being better. I receive feedback and constructive criticism as a way to improve my craft. I appreciate professional development that is pertinent and useful. I always acknowledge the fact that I do not know everything and there are always areas of improvement that are needed. My teaching goals are lofty and I realize I must improve to accomplish those goals.

Feedback is important. Sometimes some ideas just may not work or maybe a colleague or administrator may have a few ideas to help you iron out the knots in your teaching practice. Yes, we are teachers, but we are also human -- take time to chill-out and enjoy your life outside the classroom. Sometimes your best ideas come from relaxation.

Feedback is crucial in our practice to become better professionals. Besides seeking feedback from colleagues or parents, ask the experts: the learners! Prompt them with the criteria you would like feedback on: connection, style, methodology, learner agency… you can do it through scales from 1-5 and ask “what would make it a 5?”

Take time to reflect on your teaching successes, both big and small. Celebrate moments when your students achieved their goals or when you saw positive changes in their learning. Share these successes with colleagues, friends and even your students to spread positivity. Also, develop a teaching portfolio that showcases your accomplishments, lesson plans, student work, and feedback from students and colleagues. Reviewing your portfolio can remind you of your achievements and the growth you've experienced as an educator. Embrace the idea that your teaching style will evolve over time.

Never stop learning yourself. Workshops, college courses, new technology updates….it’s always good to keep up with what is out there that can be taken back to the classroom. I always challenged myself to learn one new technique/idea each year and bring it to the classroom. It kept me relevant and added a bit of fun to see how it would benefit my students each year. If it worked, I kept it. If it didn’t, I either tweaked it and tried again or just dropped it.

No matter what your style, it is important to remember that students don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care.

Always look for new ways to explain things. If you only explain things in the way that you understand them, you will only really teach a small percentage of your students. People learn in different ways. Step outside of your comfort zone and really try to reach every student. This will also give you a deeper understanding of what it is that you're teaching, which is a huge benefit to everyone.

I think the only thing that will never change in the education sector is the importance of relationship between teacher and student. That is where the meaningful learning can take place. Tools, techniques, increased subject knowledge will always be important, but the rapport will stand the test of time.

In every role you take on be a be it graduate teacher, new teacher to a school, team leader, or school leader be a learner not a knower.

Think like a learner! A teaching practice and style is always influenced by the learners you are with. Your style should be flexible enough to adapt to learners’ needs, without losing your authenticity. One strategy that works for me is thinking like a learner. This helps me get closer to them. Forget about grades, exams and tests. What would make you a happy learner? What would you need to become one? And if you have no clue… ask them!

One thing I have found helpful is to establish a safe and accepting space for all learners, demonstrating genuine interest in them as individuals. This is crucial for effective learning. When students feel valued and supported, it positively influences their overall learning experience. It goes beyond the subject matter; it involves nurturing a connection and authentic interest in each student as a unique human being. This approach provides a solid foundation for meaningful engagement and growth in the learning process.