As teachers we wear many hats so to speak, with one of the most important hats being the job of the communicator. Communication is key in every scenario, but especially when you’re a teacher. The job is all about communicating whether that be the actually lesson or just interacting with your students. Communication is the thread that ties everything together, and if you’re not communicating in the right way it all unravels. Learning how to communicate with your students can be hard at first. but once you learn the right way to speak with your students it will really help.
Besides the basic aspect of communicating, and having to learn how to do that with students there are other ways communications is important. Making sure you are communicating the class material the right way is a massively important task you’ll have to do. It honestly may be the most important. Everything revolves around your communication skills, and how that translates throughout the lesson and class. not every students will be on the same vocabulary and understanding level. Some students may not even speak English well, but that is part of the job. You’ll have to adapt with every group of students. No two groups will be the same. They will each come with their own set of challenges. Learning how to communicate with each and every student in an impactful way is one thing that makes a great educator.
Yes! Language is SO important in the classroom. Not only should we be considerate of how we speak to students but also of how we word our lectures and assignments. We must consider our students when we discuss the purpose of the content we are teaching. Our language should reflect the purpose of the information and assignments; it should be clear and specifics so students know exactly what we are asking of them. Our language should also encourage students that what they are doing will help them achieve mastery and ultimately lead to success on the final assessments. When we consider our language, students are more confident in their work. Additionally, we can create a positive classroom environment in which the students and teacher can learn and grow together!
Communication is one of the most underrated aspects of teaching. The way the information is communicated is almost as important as the information itself. I also agree that as the teacher we should be able to adapt to each group of students that we interact with. Communication goes much further than just the words that the teacher says. The way that we carry ourselves and interact with the students is also one of the most important aspects of the job. The impact that we can have on our students simply by the way we interact with them can be so profound on their lives. As teachers it is important to understand the impact we have on these students.
I agree with your blog post on many levels. As a soccer referee, my role is similar to a teacher in the classroom. As the game goes on, I guide the players onto playing the way I would like. I’m not coaching strategy, but if a player is too handsy or mouthy, I would communicate to the player that the next time, the foul would be called. More often than not, it is an effective strategy. The same applies to coaches and parents. I can communicate my needs they should follow, explain calls, and generally keep the environment light by asking them how their day is, etc. When I want something to get across to the players, coaches, and parents, I communicate it rather than being quiet. A good word to use for it is “proactive”.
Your post really does cover just about every important takeaway from the readings. Teachers are with the students about just as much as the parents. This means it is EXTREMELY important to be able to effectively communicate appropriately, and respectfully. If this is done then it will aid the students in their learning process, as well as develop a healthy teacher-student relationship.