• Always be prepared. It is not always possible to be prepared for everything but if you know about a situation in advance, you can get prepared for it to appear more confident. If you have done enough preparations, there is nothing to worry about.
• Give importance to your gestures and postures. You should walk tall and confident. Make sure that you are standing straight. If you are scared you will become cower. All you need to overcome your shyness is to walk tall and straight. Doing this will add confidence in your personality.
• Set classroom rules from the very first day. Prepare a comprehensive lesson plan using a good quality lesson plan template available online. Let students understand what you expect from them. Convey your demand in a calm and confident way. Convey your message in a way that makes it easy for students to remain disciplined even if you are not in classroom. When you will set certain rules, students will definitely understand that you are expecting respect from them.
• Confidence should also be apparent in your voice tone. Convey your message in a confident tone regardless of whether you are sure about what you say or not. Never try to be a church mouse. If you will speak in a firm tone, your message will be heard and acted upon. If you have a polite voice, practice to speak firmly.
• If you are loosing control over a situation, never get panic. The best thing you can do in this situation is to step back and take a few deep breaths. Have a photocopy of lesson plan in hand so that you may get help from it if you totally go blank. After getting relaxed, regain control of lesson authoritatively.
• Don’t shout on students if they are not listening to you. Shouting will make you frustrated. Instead of it, stand calmly and silently and wait for sometime. You will see power of this tool within very short time.
• Maintain a strict teacher-student distance to look confident. Do not let your students talk to you off topic. Be professional because breaking professional barriers will make it difficult for you to gain respect of your class.
• To show you are confident, demonstrate your knowledge and go beyond routine lesson plan. You should show your students that you know more about topic than they do.

I hope that these tips will really work for you and make you a confident and successful teacher.

• The most effective classroom punishment is time-out. Using time-out punishment, teacher places a chair at side of classroom. When a student shows disruptive behavior, teacher simply asks the student to move to time-out chair. Here student spends a couple of minutes while reflecting on his actions. Time-out is considered one of the best punishments as it sets clear limits of acceptable behavior as well as it ensures dignity of student.
• Three strikes is also a kind of classroom punishment which involves three verbal warnings to a student who misbehaves. After three strikes, case is referred to high authorities like principal. Teacher has to take care and count which student have how many strikes. This punishment is also very effective as it gives more than one opportunities to students to amend their behaviors before taking a strict action.
• Appeal to high authority is somewhat serious and strict punishment. It conveys a message to the student that their misbehavior is not acceptable at all and it needs to be informed to principal. This punishment should be used when a student does not show willingness to change his behavior or disrupts others in class. As a consequence of this punishment, student can be removed from class so it should not be used frequently.
• Vice principal, principal or other administrator in school can issue in-school suspension orders as punishment. When in-school suspension is observed, misbehaving student needs to remain in principal’s office, away from his class and fellow students. During punishment, student completes school work alone. This punishment is mostly given for one day but this punishment really works and improves discipline.
• Students who commit serious violation of rules are suspended. Suspension is actually an extended absence from school. During this punishment, student cannot enroll in a different school. Suspension is such a punishment which gives time and opportunity to students to think about their wrong actions so that they can come back to school with improved behavior and awareness.
• Most serious punishment of all is expulsion and it cannot be issued without listening to both the parties-student and administration. Students who commit serious crimes can be expelled from school. Serious crimes may include carrying illegal drugs or alcohol, having a weapon or attacking and beating a school employee. Expulsion removes a student from school on permanent basis. In worst cases, other schools are also prohibited to enroll that particular student. Expulsion is a serious punishment but it contributes greatly to a healthy education environment and other students learn a lot from it.

• Food items can easily be used to teach mathematical concepts. It seems strange but it is a fact. If you don’t believe this then use a pizza to teach fractions to students. Students will visually see a whole and then its parts or fractions when you will cut pizza into slices. Similarly, you can use chocolate beans and jellies to help students learn subtraction, addition, multiplication and division as well. Ask kids to bring such interesting items for next day’s lecture. Kids will love to do this and they will find math as the most interesting subject. Another interesting thing! Kids can even eat food items when lesson is over.
• Many kids find it difficult to learn math without seeing an example from real life. For example, to teach time to kids, you can use a small clock. Move its minute and hour hands to teach time to kids. If you are teaching kids about money, you can set a small stall having real items with price tags. Let every student to come to this stall and discover whether he/she has enough money to buy a particular item. You can also teach them hoe much money they would receive as change on buying an item.
• You can also make pairs of students to help them study math as collectively. At the end of each math class, let the pairs to practice math concepts with each other’s help. This will motivate students and they will find it interesting to do math with their partner. Math is a rigid subject and it should be best learnt when done with help of peers.
• If possible, arrange field trips for students to teach them different concepts. For example, if you are teaching about measurements, take a trip to some bakery where you can allow students to help bakers making a dish with accurate measurements. If you want to teach something more about money spending, take a trip to a super store.

See!! How simple are these methods. Use any one of above to teach math in a way which is never used before.

• First you need to communicate acceptable standards for participation in class. Ensure that students understand these requirements and know how they are expected to meet them. Also make sure to hold all students to these standards. To establish the requirements, you need to be consistent.
• You need to engage lazy students in classroom discussions and activities. Involve them in class by asking questions about daily assignments. If a student knows that he will be called and asked questions, he will definitely do the work. If you know that a lazy student is unprepared, don’t question him as it will cause embarrassment on his part.
• During class discussions, give proper time to students to answer your questions. Silence is as uncomfortable for students as teachers so students will be prompted to respond.
• Praise lazy students for answering your questions even if these are not correct. It will encourage students and build confidence in them to speak up and participate. If you have to criticize a student, try to disguise that criticism as a compliment.
• If a student shows inappropriate behavior, meet that student to discuss bad behavior. You can even hold a meeting with your colleague to ask for an appropriate action. Never meet the student or colleague in front of other students.
• In severe cases of bad behavior, you can remove students from class. If there are some other disciplinary actions provided by institution, follow them.

• Encouragement is the first and foremost strategy which you can follow. Reward lazy students if they ever participate in class activities. These rewards should not necessarily be gifts or something. Just a praising word like “good effort” or “good job” is enough. When a student feels an experience of inner accomplishment and satisfaction, he is more likely to become motivated.
• Build a rapport with students. A good teacher always makes students feel comfortable and confident and thus succeeds to create a safe and positive environment. Students always want to be cared and understood. They should be given confidence that it is really all right even if they give wrong answer to a question.
• Do not only teach the students but get them involved in class. Create opportunities where lazy students can participate. Make assignments more interesting and engaging. For this, you will need to modify your lesson plans. Try to turn your lecture into a discussion class or a fun activity. An interesting and bouncy lesson motivates students.
• Make students feel that they have choices and powers in their educational life. Make your assignments flexible so that students may decide how to involve themselves. For encouraging lazy students, allow them do some projects on their interests even if these projects are not a part of study.
• Encourage students to work as a team. Let them complete their projects as a team. It will give students a chance to feel that they belong to each other. This will also motivate lazy students to contribute more of their efforts.
• Make students know that lessons relate to their real lives as well. When they will feel that lessons affect them personally, they will pay more attention to lesson. For discussions, choose topics from newspapers and let students analyze them to learn life lessons.

Writing a Great Resume

When it comes to get a teaching job, the first thing you need to do is to write a great and impressive resume. Your resume is the first impression which you will have on minds of your potential employers. It will provide you as a strong base to step forward. While writing resume, mention all your qualifications, certificates as well as experience. Mention all those things which show you as good teacher.

Preparing References

You need to list names of some persons in your resume as references. You will definitely do not want your references be surprised by a call from your potential employer. Let them know that they might receive call in regards to the job you have applied for.

Getting Prepared for Interview

A teaching job interview is somewhat different from other job interviews. In this interview, you will face some kind of questions that are not usually asked in other job interviews. Therefore, before going for interview, it is better to guess what those questions may be. Also prepare answers of all possible questions. Some of the common questions may include:

• What kind of atmosphere would you like to have in your classroom?
• How will you handle a disruptive or problem child?

You will be able to impress your potential employer if you will answer these questions confidently, professionally and honestly.

Finding a teaching job is difficult as there is always a tough competition. But great resume and an impressive interview can increase chances of getting a job which you want.

• Assessing a student’s developmental skills is quite important for a teacher especially in case of non-verbal students. Before you develop an educational strategy, know what your non verbal student is capable of doing. Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and evaluations are those documents which can provide you detail about needs of non verbal students. They also provide you recommendations.
• To teach non verbal students, you should use visual cues. Visual cues work as the voice of non verbal students who are limited in communication and do not have skills. Illustrations may be used as an idea, want or command. For example, if a non verbal student wants to drink water, he can point to a picture of water bottle or glass.
• Adaptive communication tools are really helpful to teach non verbal students. Many such products are available which are especially designed to help students with special requirements. Communication builders use pictures and sounds to help special kids learn communication skills. For example, you can have computer software that can tell what is being typed.
• You will also need to learn sign words. This will help non verbal students to communicate with you without using any adaptive equipment. Other students in the class can also benefit from these signs and create social rapport with non verbal students.
• Use body language as a communication tool. This tool is especially useful for those students who cannot use their body parts. Simple things like eye blink, head nod and finger points are some signs that non verbal students can use to answer your question.
• Being a teacher, you should place non verbal students as close to yourself as possible so that they can communicate with you easily.
• Encourage non verbal students for the efforts to communicate. Encouragement and praise is necessary to let them develop their communication skills continuously.

• In the first or opening paragraph, you need to welcome parents and let them know that you have an aim of spending a productive academic year with kids. Express your wish to work in cooperation with parents. You should make them feel that you love to teach and are very pleased to be a teacher of their kid. If you are going to teach in place of another teacher, mention starting and ending dates.
• Next paragraph of the letter should contain your education and experience. Tell parents about your qualification and also mention how many years you have been teaching. It is also better to mention where you taught and what subjects and ages you have taught in past. In your educational background, you can add major degree along with areas of specialty.
• In third paragraph, describe your personality by mentioning your interests, hobbies and talents. This kind of information will make parents feel that you are an active and interesting person who is lively and can bring the same life to classroom.
• Finally, mention educational and social goals of yours. Tell parents when they will receive your classroom policies and other details. Also invite parents to get in touch with you if they need further information. Welcome them to give suggestions as well.
• Include your contact information along with your type-written name and signature. Contact information may include school phone number, your school email address etc.
• Before sending this letter, ask one of your colleagues to verify it for contents and spelling and grammar mistakes.

These were some tips to write teacher introduction letter. After writing it, post it on class home page on internet, so that parents can read as whenever they need.

Be Friendly: First thing you need to do is to treat all your students the same. Try to know how friendly you should be with your students. You need to set some limits while being friendly with your students.

Give Respect to Students: Make sure to receive same amount of respect from every student. Students always learn what their teacher does. If you will treat them with respect, they will return you the same respect and love.

Be Available: To improve relationship with your students, you must be there whenever they need you. So make sure that you are available for students to talk you during lunch time, after class and before school time. Students may need your help regarding studies or they may need someone who can listen their problem.

Understand your Students: You not only need to listen to students but you should also understand them. Students might face various problems in school. You should not be too strict so they cannot come to you due to fear.

Be Kind: Always greet students with an affectionate smile on your face. Talk with them and listen what problems they have in their lives. This behavior of yours will make students feel that you take care of them and are interested in their activities.

These were some simple rules of improving your relationship with your students. This may also become a key to your successful teaching career.

• The first thing that needs your consideration is your dressing. When you enter a classroom, students always notice your dressing first. You have to dress like an adult who deserves their respect. If you do not want to dress up formally, go for business casual at least. Do not ever think of wearing sneakers or jeans.
• Know about all school regulation and rules. Before accepting a job as substitute teacher, you should know school policies. Students know all rules and regulations of their school and if they come to know that you are unaware, you will not get control over them.
• Try to arrive at school as early as possible. Come into office and read any material left by secretary. After that, go to your classroom and study the lesson plan for the day. Also review register and seating plan. If you find that there is not much work to do for students to keep them busy, try to find an article in newspaper to be read and discussed in class.
• Students will try to escape after knowing that they have a substitute teacher in their class. So make sure that any student who wants to go to bathroom or other dubious destination has a pass. Also check that student goes outside alone and comes back within appropriate time.
• You also require keeping your nerves under control. You should not let students feel your fear and apprehension. If they will know that you are nervous, they will try to take advantage of this situation.
• Enjoy your substituting experience. The more you enjoy, more the kids will enjoy having you as their teacher. They will remember and recognize you and next time, they will treat you with more esteem.