PROJECTING CONFIDENCE
We know that effective teachers teach with confidence—which is not to be confused with arrogance. The first step in teaching with confidence is to know why you teach—why you show up to meet the intellectual, emotional, and physical demands that are placed on teachers every day.
In observing teachers for nearly two decades, I’ve noticed that the most effective ones demonstrate their confidence through an active voice, body language, and preparedness.
When speaking actively and expressively, you’ll also need to know when and how to keep your voice calm and steady. Learning and practicing variations of voice will help you command presence and achieve the attention you and your students deserve. You can practice pauses, voice variations, and tempo changes. If you have the time and resources, try signing up for a theater class. Or simply volunteer to read children’s books to preschoolers or kindergartners—those little ones will let you know instantly if you can keep their attention with your delivery.
Entering a classroom slouched, looking to the floor, or scowling while you have your arms crossed will not inspire too many students. Instead, stand tall, walk the room while talking, make eye contact, and smile. A confident body will greatly improve your presence.
If you enter a basketball game knowing you’ve prepared by practicing your offensive and defensive plays, you’ll compete with much more confidence. The same goes for teaching. Benjamin Franklin once said, “If you fail to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” You teach with confidence when you’re prepared.
Presence is crucial to maintaining classroom management and to effective delivery of instruction, and it’s a skill we can develop with effort.
Actively Engaged
When a teacher mostly stays at the front of the classroom and does most of the talking, students tend to become disinterested and may start to act up.
It's no surprise that it's usually the students seated at the back of the class who misbehave the most when a teacher stays in the front for the entire period.
One of the most important reasons a teacher wants to circulate the classroom is to promote and maintain engagement.
In addition to creating a purposeful seating arrangement, circulating the room helps maintain proximity to your students, they are more likely to stay on track, and you are more likely to prevent behavioral issues from occurring to begin with.
You can use your walks to talk with your students, promote relationships, and keep the learning happening.
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