Students can become bored easily if teaching strategies or techniques are not changed from time to time. The more classroom teachers can utilize various teaching strategies, the more students will appreciate classroom instructions. Several effective teaching strategies are available.

Lecture

One teaching strategy is the lecture, a technique consisting of introducing material in a logical and direct manner. Lectures rarely offer students an opportunity for open discussions. Although the instructor uses illustrations, examples, and graphics, the students remain passive in the classroom. Such techniques is useful for teaching large groups and when introducing a new subject.

Discussion

The classroom discussion is another teaching strategy that teachers can utilize. Discussion allows all participates to get involved, especially after a speech, or movie or any other subject that needs to be analyzed. The instructor must design an outline and carefully plan the discussion. However, this method could be time-consuming and some students may be able to dodge participation.

Role Playing

Role playing is a teaching strategy the can be used to educate students in the classroom. Students introduce a situation issue dramatically in a corporative classroom setting. The goal of the role-playing technique is to understand and appreciate the point of view of other people as well as to discover solutions to problems. Instructor or student facilitating must be given the appropriate instructions. However, this method might cause some student to feel self-conscious.

Collaborative Groups

Collaborative learning is another teaching strategy in the classroom. Students can divide into separate groups for assignments. This is cooperate learning. Student facilitators introduce and discuss complex questions dealing with a subject such as science, economic or social studies. Each student reads and then discusses the questions and search for a resolution.

Computers and Videos

Computers and video tapes are popular devices for learning. Teachers can use them to educate students on  nearly all subjects. Computers and videos are  entertaining devices designed to engage students on a visual level. The technological devices will keep students’ overall attention as well as inspire their  thinking. An instructor must set up the equipment and prepare assessment questions.

Other teaching strategies involve field trips, classroom projects, and independent assignments that require one or two students to spend significant  time outside the classroom.

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 Heavey Teacher Workloads

However, a teacher’s workload can become so overwhelming that he or she may leave the career after the first year. The size of the classroom, the behavior of challenging students, the requirements of standardized test, the piles of paper, lesson planning and presentation, multiple assessment routines, and the demands of the administration can all lead new teachers to excessive burnout.

Excessive burnout can lead to massive teacher shortages. Lack of effective teachers is an urgent problem in many school districts across America. Out of desperation, many districts come up with programs that accelerate the training and licensing process for new teachers. But the problem of demanding workloads still won’t go away, regardless of the number of remedial projects initiated to bring new teachers into a district.

The problem of being overwhelmed is widespread. According to a recent survey by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, nearly three quarters of talented teachers have thought about changing their careers.

Heavy teacher workloads are mainly the fault of administration. Pushing teachers to meet the requirements of standardized test, close the achievement gap and to seize the competitive edge in educational recognition are enforced by the higher administrative educational officials. Teachers must work hard under pressure to meet expectations.

Standardized test

Teachers can become exhausted when they are pressured to teach in order to satisfy the requirements of the standardized test. This type of teaching takes away creativity and limits the introduction of more significant material that could meet the needs of particular students. In addition, studies show that the state standardized test is not sufficient enough to evaluate the skills of most minorities. The test is designed more specifically for more privilege students rather than students in more oppressive school environments.

Achievement Gap

Extending schools hours, more tests, specialty schools and several other programs, including “”No Child Left Behind Act” have failed to close the achievement gap. Minority students, particularly African American and Hispanic students are still struggling to reach the academic milestones that white students have achieved. New approaches to closing the achievement gap have not narrowed the educational divide between the two groups of students.

The Competitive Edge

When administration pushes for the competitive edge in order to win students and parents to the district, these activities can result in teachers struggling with heavy workloads. The priority is coverage, not quality. In many districts, teachers must cover several subjects in order to meet scheduled deadlines and administrative expectancies. But anytime competition becomes more important than delivering a quality education, a school district is cheating the teachers, students and parents. Instead of mastery in specified, academic areas, recognition for coverage becomes the norm.

Sequence of consequences

When teachers are overwhelmed with heavy teacher workloads, several consequences can arise and destroy the quality of teaching.

Days of Exhaustion

In order to effectively teacher a classroom full of expectant students, a teacher needs plenty of energy and clarity. Coming to school exhausted from grading tons of paper and designing multiple lesson plans for different grade levels can spell chaos for the classroom teachers. Instruction becomes less effective because it is usually rushed through.

Related Health Issue

The stress of heavy teacher workloads can lead to serious health problems such as chronic headaches, high blood pressure, and heart issues, especially when new teachers are pushing themselves too far due to fear of losing their jobs. A classroom of challenging students only adds to the stress and chaos of the classroom.

Massive Frustration

Teachers who are frustrated with the administration cannot teacher effectively. They view the administration as un-supportive and out of touch with the demands of the classroom. This disconnection can lead too high turnover and teacher shortages in many school districts. As a consequence of teacher shortages, many districts submit to accelerated programs designed to attract teachers who may be less interested in teacher and more interested in earning a paycheck.

The Key Solution for Dealing with Heavy Teacher Workloads

The solutions to heavy teacher workloads must begin with administration. Reducing the teacher’s burden must begin with technology designed to educate the student without much input from the teacher. One ideal suggestion is the creation of a virtual classroom where students can engage in learning without teachers drowning in a ton of lesson planning. This unique idea would teach students to become more responsible for their own education and have fun doing it.

Math, English, science, and social studies can all be taught in a virtual environment. Sure there

will be teachers in the classroom to facilitate and provide critical instructions and assessments, but the virtual programs will do the rest. In addition, this form of learning through technology would have more students excited about coming to school and probably would reduce several classroom management problems. Students would be too engaged in their virtual environment to act out due to boredom or provocation.

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Excellence Oriented
Extraordinary teachers are excellence oriented. They don’t accept failure, neither in themselves nor their students. Failure is just an excuse to avoid perseverance and challenge. They don’t accept poverty, family dysfunction, or drug infested communities as an excuse for a student’s low academic achievement. Extraordinary teachers teach by empowerment, inspiration, and challenge. They attack low self-esteem and help students activate the uniqueness within themselves. Because of their dedication to the student, a track record of success follows them wherever they go. High regards and respect from fellow teachers, parents, and students surround them. Many have obtained Teachers of the Year Awards. Students discover early that these are the teachers whose classroom they would like to attend. Therefore their influence upon student achievement in any school is beyond measure. Extraordinary teachers such as Marva Collins have entered low achieving schools and transformed them in to an institution of academic success.

Well-Informed of Best Practices
Extraordinary teachers are always seeking the latest theoretical, strategic, and technological advancement in the field of education, either through the dynamic discoveries of others or through their own research and experimentation. They are always looking for ways to transform low performing students into high achievers. An extraordinary teacher desires teaching strategies that are engaging and exciting to students as well as their own colleagues and administrators. In fact, if an entire school is inspired by a particular practice, the excitement there of will spread through the building, from classroom to classroom, like wildfire. According to William Ayers, an educational reformist, “Great teaching demands an openness to something new, something unique, and something dynamic”(reference 1).This is the attitude and style that creates what is known as Best Practices. The Multiple Intelligence system of learning founded by Howard Gardner, and the Responsive Classroom approach are two of the most popular revolutionary teaching philosophies for today’s classroom settings. Rather than sitting silently and listening to the teachers all day, children are more active as classroom participants. Developed by GCS and NEFC, the purpose of Responsive Classroom approach to teaching is to create self-discipline and community both inside and outside the classroom. Students not only learn academics but also how to become a prosperous community of learners that gives value to society.

Committed to Educating All Students
Extraordinary teachers are committed to the education of all students. Aware that many students come from a variety of backgrounds, great teachers do their homework. They go out of their way to learn about the cultures of their students. These teachers make weekend library trips or spend long hours on the internet researching the customs, dress, and rituals of various ethnic groups. This knowledge helps them to determine new styles and approaches to teaching. Designing a personal culture day early in the school year for different cultures in the classroom is an ideal experience for students to understand the cultures of their classmates. Extraordinary teachers see that their students are very careful not to offend any of their multicultural classmates.
Also, by knowing the cultures of different ethnic groups, an extraordinary teacher uses the knowledge as an education project for the entire classroom. Children get to know the practices, rituals, and experience of other cultures first hand. This knowledge also helps students respect and appreciate uniqueness in others.
Always Envisioning the Student’s Future
Another habit of extraordinary teachers is that of envisioning what a child could be in the future. A great teacher may see one child as a doctor and the other as a lawyer, accountant, or a celebrated athlete. Whatever profession a teacher sees that student is personal only to them. The purpose of the strategy is to see the student more than just another student in the classroom. It is a good idea for the teacher to practice this habit early in the semester for each student. Each extraordinary teaches have various ways of envisioning a student’s future. A good thing is to write down the name of each student on a separate piece of paper and write a profession beside it that you think the child’s unique personality and character would match. This activity keeps the teacher always aware of the student’s potential. Also this strategy helps to separate the child from its behavior whenever disciplinary measures are enacted. Envisioning the future of a student takes a teacher that deeply cares for the success of the child. In many of today’s classrooms, multitudes of teachers across the nation wait impatiently for the day to end. They are relieved when the child walks out of the door or when the child doesn’t show up the next day because of some illness or incident. But extraordinary teachers don’t believe in giving up on children. They goal is to empower students with the desire to learn by whatever means necessary.

Seek to Build Strong Relationships with Parents
Extraordinary teachers are team players and seek to build strong relationships with students and families. They delight in communicating with parents, students, and fellow colleagues in order to bond and work together to create a great learning environment. The extraordinary teacher has many needs as well. They need corporation from students, parents, teachers, and administrators in order to bring about transformation in student academics. They need students to believe in themselves in order to assist them into changing their academic destiny.
To many, extraordinary teachers will appear larger than life in their perspective fields because of the innovative changes they bring to the table. But without the collective support of students, faculty, and staff, great teachers know that successful changes in academic scene are rarely possible. Extraordinary teachers aspire in the school environment where there is unity of purpose among all involved.
All in all, twenty-first century students must have the encouragement of teachers, staff, and parents behind them if they are to accelerate in learning.

Recruiting Extraordinary Minded Teachers

In order for the American Education system to eliminate the problem of illiteracy and to close the achievement gap, it must recruit extraordinary teachers who embrace more than the No Child Left behind Act. All teachers must become dedicated to excellence and fully committed to the education of the twenty-first century student. Extraordinary teachers must grow and expand across America and invade the classrooms of challenging inner cities and struggling suburban’s schools. Money must become less of an issue. Instead the priceless investment in the student must become the highest priority if the Education system in America is to overcome mediocrity and excel. There is no special inward talent to gaining an extraordinary teacher mentality. It can be assumed by any teacher who has the outstanding privilege of educating a twenty-first century child.
Ayers, William. To Teach: the journey of the teacher (New York: Teachers College Press, 2001).

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Clear Vision

First, they have a clear vision for their classroom. They are not just teaching for a paycheck. At the end of a semester they expect a hug change in the academic performance, nature and behavior of each student. Each hour of teaching, each day of interaction during the school year is geared toward changing the mindset and motivation of the students.

Instills Quality

Second, a responsive teacher instills quality in her presentations. Each time she stands before the classroom, there is an objective for what she teaches and all the students know this. Random teaching is not a practice of a great educator. He or she makes sure that the student gets the best out of each subject taught. She assesses their learning before the end of each day.

Demands Attention

Third, a responsive teacher demands the attention of all her students when delivering the lesson. She will not take over any student. If a student cannot cooperate, he is given a warning or a consequence at that time, not later, when the deed has long faded away. From this strictness, the students learn to respect her.

Challenges Students

Fourth, great teachers don’t allow their students to just sat back and listen. Responsive teachers demands that all students participate in the discussions and learning. When student are actively participating in what’s going on in the classroom, it is an indication that learning is occurring. This is what separates great teachers from average teachers. No student is allowed to opt out of a period of learning.

Connect with Students

Fifth, a responsive teacher attempts to connect with each student on a personal basis. She feels if she can reach the student that way, the student will develop more trust toward her and will possess a willingness to give his education the best effort possible. Making student feel part of your family is the hallmark of building trust.

Allow for Fun

Sixth, students are allowed to have fun when a responsive teacher is in charge. When teachers are responsive, they sense the changing classroom. Since they are flexible, they know how to adapt their teaching approach to the vibrations of the moment. For instance, a great teacher is not afraid to temporarily drop the lesson plan and play a game or take the children outside for a period of relaxation from stress or mental fatigue. Responsive teachers know that somedays it is just hard to hold focus throughout an entire school day.

Fridays are usually the typical days when students and teachers reach a level of burnout and needs an extensive break from academic learning.

What makes a responsive teacher great is that she is always giving her attention to students. She notices their work, their emotions and their behavior. She redirects and corrects and applies consequences on a consistent basis. Her students are well aware of why she does what she does.

In order to be a responsive teacher, you must be competent and courageous. You cannot be afraid of what students may say or feel about you. Although you would like to be accepted, you cannot fall for the desire to be liked. Such desire is an immediate trap resulting in increasing compromise and negligence when it comes to controlling a classroom.

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