A gift for Teachers

An educational institution (including a madrasah) should not only be a learning hub but a centre of fun, creativity and empowerment. Learners progress effectively when they feel attracted to an exhilarating lesson.

We often complain about the attention-span of our learners. How can this be solved?

The following approaches could be given in response:

1. The pace to the delivery of the lesson must be sharp and smart. This can be ensured by planning lessons effectively and coordinating resources well. There should be clear rules that are consistently enforced. The learners must have a clear idea of the lesson objectives set out at the beginning of the lesson.

2. Learners love the challenge of learning. The activities must be increasingly challenging, progressing the learning, targeted at specific learners and probing in nature. We must have a set criteria to see whether learners are making rapid and sustained progress.

3. Teachers must ensure lessons are interactive, thought-stimulating, creative and hence planned ahead. Do the activities set out foster enjoyment in learners and a sense of achievement?

A teacher should not have an ultra-commanding and totalitarian presence in the classroom. It is a relationship based on mutual respect and collaborative-partnership. A teacher should guide and look after his learners, as a shepherd herds his sheep.

A key to useful teaching is to understand, respect and serve all learners from diverse traditions, customs and backgrounds. Consequently, teachers must receive guidance depending on their pupils` needs in order to construct a curriculum that successfully guides and empowers learners.

A major role is to ensure that all learners are included in the lesson despite their ability. Do the lessons entail evaluative thinking, reading, writing, speaking, listening and communicative skills?

The teacher needs to be aware of all SEN learners and use the Individual Educational Plans to help them move forward. Our lessons should cater for all types of learners; visual, auditory and kinaesthetic. Are there any opportunities to support weaker learners?

Importantly, the teacher’s compassionate attitudes could have extensive consequences on learners, positive or negative. A teacher must be a broad-minded and tolerant person who respects the pupil’s diversity and confers love and considerate attitudes towards learners. We must demonstrate understanding of the ways learners think.

It is imperative to increase selfesteem, motivation and empowerment in learners to create great ambitions in the learners` mind for future academic achievement. Psychologically, the nature of the learner-teacher relationship can have intensive and imperative life-consequences. Any deterioration in this unique relationship may result in the students opting out of the educational system and failing to gain the relevant qualifications to pursue their careers, leading to juvenile delinquency and other criminal activity. Is there humour and a consistent and positive approach used to manage the classroom? We must encourage learners to work hard, recognise, praise and reward their efforts and have good expectations.

An average-performing student seized to take interest in learning, it was assumed that the pupil was deliberately misbehaving and not participating effectively with his peer group. But it was not a deliberate attempt. Though my lessons were highly- interactive, creative and well planned, why was the student failing to reach their full potential and contribute to group activities? I now had to take my role as a teacher to diagnose the problem.

The student had been undergoing personal and family issues. Identifying the root cause was my task as a teacher and when it was identified I was able to, with the help of appropriate professionals, find a relevant solution for the cause and ensure that the issue would not be a hindrance to effective learning. This clearly illustrated that a teacher-learner relationship had to be more of a doctor-patient. The parents should also be given clear and timely information and guidance on the progress of their child and how they could be supported to improve.

The teacher’s role does not only involve making an impact on academic performance but also creating well rounded citizens ensuring all learners welfare is catered for. Then only will learners be able to concentrate and stay focus and make an impact on their learning. What learning styles are most suitable for my learners? This will then give the teacher a baseline to assess his or her own performance. The teacher also needs to track the learner’s progress to ensure learners are making continued progress and if not then strategies need to be put in place to ensure progress is made. Incisive feedback should be given to the learners. Are the activities completed by learners immediately evaluated and corrected? The learners should know clearly what they have achieved so far and what their future target is.

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The Ask Our Imam site hopes to respond to queries relating to Islamic law. It is not an Islamic Law Shari`ah Court. The questions and answers found on this website are for educational purposes. However, many of the rulings rendered here are distinct to the specific scenario and thus should be read in conjunction with the question and not taken as a basis to establish a verdict in another situation or environment. This site bears no responsibility in these responses being used out of their intended context, nor to any party who may or may not follow the responses given and is being hereby exempted from loss or damage howsoever caused. None of the responses rendered may be used as evidence in any Court of Law without prior written consent of Our Imam. Any reference to another website or link provided in our responses or article should not be taken as an endorsement of all the content on that website; in fact, it is restricted to the particular material being cited.

Posted in General on 26th Jan 2016 by Our Imam | 967 Views