Remove padlocks on children’s minds

In the last few years working as a teacher, I have undergone an amazing transformation in the way I teach. The changes have been in the things I do when I am in the classroom, the ways that I motivate the children and instruct them. Before, I spent a lot of time expecting the children to just work from their textbook, reading and answering questions. I stood at the front of the class or sometimes just did marking in the corner.

But now, after more training, I have a lot of interaction in the classroom, more discussion, more questions from them and from me as we go along. Lots of time for feedback. I believe you must be ready to try new things as a teacher, in what you do and how you do it.

When I joined this school, the first thing I did was go on a residential training course, to spend time thinking and learning about the best ways to teach. Not what to teach, but how to teach. Many teachers were there. We were looking at the different ways children learn and how a good teacher can make a classroom a more powerful place for learning. It was all so new and interesting to me. I see the change in my pupils and know for sure that I am a better teacher now because of the new approaches and techniques I have learnt. I can see it in the way the children respond to me.

One of the most effective teaching techniques I have learnt through the training sessions provided is known as ‘STRIVE’. This is an acronym where ‘S’ requires pupils to sit and be attentive so as to absorb the information in the lesson. ‘T’ requires pupils to track teachers with their eyes, preventing them from losing concentration and vital information. ‘R’ requires pupils to respond whenever they are asked a question so that the teacher can tell whether the pupil has understood what is being taught or not.

‘I’ requires pupils to inquire whenever they have any question about the content. ‘V’ requires pupils to visualise success so that they can visibly see the improvements in their work. Finally, ‘E’ requires pupils’ ears to be listening at all times, as this is the pathway to the brain. I believe that all my pupils are able to learn due to the teaching philosophy I was taught in my training. It is simple: narrating the positive, giving children time to think before choosing someone to answer, watching the whole room.
Every couple of weeks, the academy manager comes and watches me teach and after that, she talks to me about how I could do better. I also have a leadership and development coach who comes to the school and do the same thing. It gives me fresh perspective.

Some parents cannot read and write. Many children can now help their parents to read. We can see that the children are learning new things. I do not beat the pupils, because if you beat them, you put a padlock on their minds. It is important to discipline them using other methods. Now, I have a strong relationship with my pupils because they have no fear to try.
Ibrahim Bashir,
A teacher