How To Motivate A Lazy Student

Teaching is a rewarding career for many people, however it can become frustrating when you have difficulty inspiring unmotivated students. To motivate lazy students, you must think creatively and incorporate new strategies. Follow these steps.

1.      Reward your students for participating in class.

These rewards don't have to be fancy; a simple "good job" is often enough to make a student feel great. The more a student experiences that inner feeling of accomplishment, the more motivated they will become.

2.      Establish a connection with your students.

A teacher who makes students feel comfortable and confident creates a safe environment. Students need to feel safe; they need to understand that it's okay if they get an answer wrong.

3.      Create opportunities for student participation.

Don't just lecture at your students--get them involved. Modify lesson plans to make assignments more active and engaging. Can you turn a lecture into a class discussion or a game? An energetic lesson that gets students involved is a great way to motivate them and help them learn.

4.      Give students choices.

They need to feel like they have some power and control over their educational experience. Incorporate a degree of flexibility into your assignments so students can choose how to participate, and thus feel actively involved. For extra credit, let them do projects on subjects that interest them even if they are not part of regular class study.

5.      Have students work together.

 Most people like to spend time with other people. Completing projects as part of a team gives students the chance to feel like they belong and can motivate lazy students to contribute more.

6.      Demonstrate how lessons relate to students' lives.

If they understand how something affects them personally, they are more likely to pay attention to the lesson. Take events out of the newspaper and pop culture, and have the class analyze them for life lessons.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_2058647_motivate-lazy-students.html

A Professional Teacher, Are You?

Professional is one mission of someone wherever they are. Professional in their fields of course very necessary for the improvement of level in one state. Teachers are professionals, but you can't always tell by the appearance. While you can't judge a book by its cover, some people never open the cover. All teachers want to be respected. They have earned a degree and they put a lot of work into their classroom. Follow this advice and, at a glance, you will be considered a professional!

1.      Practice personal hygiene.

Another saying, cleanliness is next to godliness. Well, it won't make you a god or goddess, but it can affect how your students and their parents view you. Bath regularly. Use deodorant. In you wear perfume or cologne, go light. Brush your teeth and, if necessary, have breath mints on hand. Clean and comb your hair in a style that can last all day long. You may have an impromptu conference after school.

2.      Dress for success

Your clothes should be clean and pressed. It should reflect your position. When you bend over, your underwear shouldn't show. When you lift your arms, your stomach should remain hidden. Bras should be worn but not visible. Jeans and tee shirts are very comfortable, but they do not have a professional look. This doesn't mean you have to wear denim dresses with chalkboard designs or ties with schoolhouses on them. Use your own style, but consider your position. Some looks are just not right in the classroom. If you look sloppy, don't be surprised when you are not treated in a professional manner.

3.      Consider every aspect of your appearance. Another part of the dress is your shoes. Tennis shoes are great for p.e. classes, but a shoe with a more professional look should be worn in the classroom. Go for comfort that looks good.

4.      Professional teacher no-no!

Remember your face! The most important part of your appearance is your demeanor. If you wear a constant scowl or loudly complain, you will not be looked at as a professional teacher. Your countenance should be one that is attractive to the children and the way you address them should be gracious and professional.

5.      Go into your classroom and make it look professional too.

Add framed copies of your degrees to the wall behind your desk. This establishing the fact that you have a degree and are qualified to teach.

6.      Be a professional!

All in all, none of these things will make you a better teacher. In fact, a terrible teacher can look very professional. If you want to be treated as a professional, be willing to dress the part and act the part. Then more beyond that, and be professional too!

Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_4704700_professional-teachers-appearance.html

To Be Close To The Students

      Sometimes it is too hurt for a teacher when the students do not pay attention to him/ her. It commons happen in daily life of a teacher. Here are some suggestions for you how to be close to the students.
1.      Get a text messaging plan, then let your child take the communication lead. They will miss you as much as you miss them, but they may be too distracted to realize it. When they do, they'll reach out in their own style. So, now's the time to get your thumbs in shape, learn Facebook, or find out what Twitter is really all about!

2.      Get to know your child's new city and/or campus. Go to football games (even if it means sitting in a different section), eat at local restaurants, and even read the local news online. It will give you more to talk about and show your child that you're interested.

3.      Let your students fight their own battles. Phone calls about bad days will inevitably be heartbreaking. Listen carefully, but don't pick up the phone to call your child's professor or roommate. Give suggestions, then wait to hear results. The problem will probably be gone in 24 hours.

4.      Make homecomings spectacular. Put out an array of your child's favorite snacks. Hang a "Welcome Home" sign on the front door. (My Mom continues to do this, and it's a treat every time. The neighbors even caught on and started hanging signs for their children.)

5.      Listen carefully. You know your child better than anyone, so you'll know when something is wrong. Celebrate the good days, and support the bad ones. Campuses are full of helpful resources, so don't hesitate to point your child to an office that can help.

Source:  http://www.ehow.com/how_5322441_stay-close-college-student.html

Being A Friendly Teacher

A friendly teacher, as the very term suggests, acts like a friend for his/her students. A teacher-friend, in fact, combines both the guidance of a teacher and the understanding of a friend. We all, at some point of time, aspire for an understanding teacher. Such a teacher acts like our friend, philosopher and guide. If we have our teacher as our friend, we will never wander from the right path of life. Every teacher should have some friendly traits in him/her. Such a teacher is more close to the students and proves to be a better educator as well.

Qualities Of A Friendly Teacher

1. Boosts Personality Development
A friendly teacher can give a healthy boost to a child’s personality development. Students feel restricted and bogged down in an un-friendly atmosphere. Friendly teachers make them feel at home. This is especially true for young students. However, it is equally important to maintain a careful distance from the students and not become over-friendly. A teacher needs to ensure that her orders are carried out and for that respect is also necessary.

2. Encourages Open Discussions
It is often seen that students engage in free debates in the class of a friendly teacher and don’t feel subdued. Even an otherwise introvert student reacts positively in the companionship of a friendly teacher. Open discussions are vital to a student’s life, for they make him/her accept new ideas and opinions. It is not necessary that a friendly teacher would directly promote open discussions; even his/her friendly attitude can encourage students to candidly discuss their concerns and other issues.

3. Develops A Bond
A friendly teacher succeeds in developing a cherished bond with his/her students. Such a teacher will be, undoubtedly, missed by students in his/her absence. No matter how good a teacher is, there are very few who can develop a true bond with students. Only a friendly teacher is capable of doing this, because students consider him/her as their friend.

4. Offers Constructive Criticism
A friendly teacher never blatantly criticizes a student in the class, to humiliate him/her. Rather, he/she always offers constructive criticism and encourages the students to take criticism in their stride and learn lessons from it. Young students are vulnerable and can be wounded if criticized in the wrong way. A friendly teacher is always gentle with them.

Source: http://festivals.iloveindia.com/teachers-day/types-of-teachers/friendly-teacher.html

Rasulullah, The Real Teacher

In the beginning of this posting, I share you about the characteristics of good teacher aas Rasulullah had taught us.

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says in the Qur’an,

هُوَ الَّذِي بَعَثَ فِي الْأُمِّيِّينَ رَسُولًا مِّنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَإِن كَانُوا مِن قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ

Translation: It is He who has sent among the unlettered a Messenger from themselves reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom although they were before in clear error. [Suratul Jumu'ah, verse 2]

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) sent Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) to do four things:

1. Recite the verses
2. Teach the Qur’an
3. Teach the Wisdom (sunnah)
4. Purify his followers.

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) nurtured the sahaba and taught them in such a way that the whole of Arabia drastically changed in a matter of 23 years. He had six amazing qualities of teaching that inshaAllah we can implement and follow as teachers, parents, siblings, and any other roles we have in our communities.

Mu’awiyah ibn Al-Hakam said, “I have never seen a teacher before him (Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) or after him better in teaching than he.”

The attributes of a good teacher:

1. Desire and keen for goodness for students: In surah At-Tawbah, Allah says, in the translation of ayah 128, “There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful.” Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) also advised Abu Dhar (رضي الله عنه‏), “I see that you are weak, and I love for you like I love for myself, so if someone gives you a position of leadership, don’t take it”.
2. Kindness. Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said, “Allah is Kind (Rafeeq) and He loves kindness, and confers upon kindness which He does not confer upon severity, and does not confer upon any thing besides it (kindness).” [Muslim] We see his kindness throughout his life (صلى الله عليه و سلم), when he would pass by children in the street he would play with them–unlike nowadays, where people think it is righteousness to never smile. Anas ibn Malik (رضي الله عنه‏) narrated that whenever the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) would pass by children he would smile fondly and greet them. [Bukhari and Muslim].
   Anas also narrated, “I served him for ten years, and he never said “uff” (an expression of disgust) to me. He never said, ‘why did you do that?’ for something I had done, nor did he ever say ‘why did you not do such and such’ for something I had not done.” [Bukhari and Muslim].
3. Hikmah (wisdom). Hikmah is defined as saying the right thing at the right time to the right people in the right manner. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said, “Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or is oppressed.” A man inquired: “O Messenger of Allah! I help him when he is oppressed, but how can I help him when he is an oppressor?” He (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said, “You can keep him from committing oppression. That will be your help to him.” [Bukhari]. Another example is the story of the bedoin who urinated in the masjid. SubhanAllah, while all of the sahaba ran to admonition him and beat him, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) simply said, “Leave him alone and pour a bucket of water over it. You have been sent to make things easy and not to make them difficult.” [Bukhari]
4. Humilty and humbleness. Abu Rifa’a (رضي الله عنه‏) narrated that, “I came towards the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) while he was giving the khutba. I said ‘O Messenger of Allah, an estranged man has come asking about his religion, he does not know what his religion is.’ The Messenger of Allah came towards me and left his khutba until he reached me, and was brought a chair, I thought the legs were made of iron. The Prophet sat on it and started teaching me from what Allah had taught him. Then he returned to his khutba and completed it.” [Bukhari]
5. Saying “I don’t know” if you don’t know the answer. Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) would only answer a question if Qur’an had been revealed answering it, or he would wait for revelation. Once, Jaabir ibn Abdillah (رضي الله عنه‏) came and asked the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سل) about inheritance, and Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) stayed quiet until Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) revealed the ayah in Surah an-Nisaa.
6. Speaking slowly. ‘Aishah (رضي الله عنها‏) reported that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) did not summarize his speech, and he spoke in such a way that if one were to count his words, they could be counted. [Bukhari] Anas ibn Malik also reported that Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) would repeat his words three times.

These are only a few of the qualities of Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) as a teacher, indeed in him we have an excellent pattern–as Allah Himself says:

لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا

Translation: There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often. [Surah Ahzab, verse 21].

Source: http://www.ilmfruits.com/the-best-teacher