Teaching priority number 1

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It is the first weeks of term and you have many things to consider and organise. You want to make sure your teaching gets off to a good start so the question is, what should you focus on? If you could only concentrate on one aspect my number one recommendation would be to work towards building positive relationships with your students.


Clearly the process of creating a positive and collaborative relationship with students is an ongoing endeavour, that will perhaps never have an end point, however the benefits of engaging in this process can be significant, with engaged and motivated students who are open to a variety of learning activities and approaches, importantly leading to the progression and achievement outcomes both they and you desire. 


So how do we build positive relationships with our students? 


Remember names - while this is a big challenge for large cohorts, the value of being able to remember names is considerable, for instance it can immediately mean that students feel valued and not just a number in a large cohort, you can also easily call upon people within a session if you wish to elicit their input or engagement, and it helps to foster a community feel straight away


Establish your credibility - you may think that your degrees and PhD speak for themselves, and in many respects they do, however students will still be assessing you not only in terms of your knowledge, but your ability to communicate ideas and concepts effectively as well as respond to supplementary questioning. Going above and beyond is a great strategy all the time, however can be really effective in the first few weeks to establish credibility from the off, so students feel comfortable, and trust starts to develop.


Be consistent and reliable - the value of consistency and reliability cannot be underestimated. This can be achieved in many ways, but importantly if you make a commitment (for instance to follow up with some information, or attend a meeting) then do everything in your power to meet that commitment. Being reliable and consistent over a period of time develops the key ingredient in any relationship that of trust. 


Be approachable - as a subject specialist and teacher, it may be that you unwittingly have a persona of being unapproachable, this can impact on student’s willingness to ask questions to check their understanding, and seek clarification, ultimately limiting their learning. Being approachable can be achieved by offering and reminding students of the opportunities you provide them to ask questions both in and out of class time, and then subsequently very importantly, being welcoming and responsive to their questions and needs when they do approach you.


Be yourself - while on the face of it a relatively simple proposition (we spend all day everyday being ourselves right?), as a new teacher being able to bring your authentic self to your practice can be a challenge, as you juggle the many cognitively demanding aspects of teaching, in addition (especially as a new teacher) to trying to live up to your expectations and perceptions of what you feel a teacher should be and do. Quickly focusing on behaving in a way that is both appropriate and authentic to yourself can be transformative in that it builds confidence, reduces cognitive load, and allows your personality and warmth to come through and enhance the relationships building process.


So some suggestions above of ways to engage in the most fundamental aspect of teaching that if engaged with consistently will reap significant benefits, making your role easier and the learning experience for the students more enjoyable and effective.

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