Teaching Do's

The list can be organized into 3 sections - before, during and after the lesson.

Before lesson
1. Be prepared
- going through the lesson plans (the one before, current and the one after for continuity)
- administration stuff such as photocopying the handouts/ test papers
- consolidate the students' progress (e.g. missed accountable assignments, attendance rate, etc => for FEEDBACK portion during the lesson)
- prepare a list of questions (Refer to questioning skills)

2. Know your material
- going through the materials
- exploring the Internet for interesting/ recent happenings to spice up the lesson
- think through for some possible questions and prepare their answers

3. Use audio/visual aids - prepare/enhance the PowerPoint slides, spice up using graphics/ photographs/ animations

4. Be organized - with the inputs from 1, 2 & 3, make sure the final flow is a smooth flow and not jumping around

During the lesson
1. Be organized
- Show them the module schedule and where the class is currently
- Show them the agenda for the day (Objectives, lesson proper, break, discussion, feedback, etc)
- (for the first few lessons) Show them the required textbook, assessment scheme and passing requirements + discuss with them an agreed class norms (attendance, lateness, attire, break time, etc)

2. Make the class comfortable
- physical: "Can everyone see and hear?"
- mental: "Feel Free to ask question at any time."

3. State the objectives (with continuity)
- remind them the previous lessons
- tell them what will be covered in this lessons
- inform them what will be covered in the next lessons

4. Show enthusiasm
- be enthusiasm about your subject
- be enthusiasm about teaching

5. Answer questions
{Never answer any question until you've asked the class "how would you answer that question ...?"}
- (know the answer) answer the questions and ask the student if you have answered the questions that was asked
- (don't know the answer) defer answering and take down the question

6. Establish rapport (subjective!)
- be kind and sensitive toward students
- treat them with respect like adults

7. Provide feedback
- show them their progress (missed accountable assignments, marks, attendance rate, etc)

8. Be flexible
- adjust your lesson plans to accommodate immediate needs of the students

9. Maintain control
- keep personality conflicts, domineering students or other classroom problems under control

(Added) 10. Ask many questions
- Technique: Capture attention, ask question once (never repeat except for large classes), pause for 5 seconds and name a student to answer the question
- Ask both simple and exacting (requiring more effort) questions
- Stimulate critical thinking by asking "To what extend ...", "How?", "Under what circumstances?" , "Why?" and "Compare ..."
- Avoid asking "Does anyone know ...?" and "Who can tell us ...?"
- Encourage other students to comment on the answers > start the crossfire by asking "what's your opinion of that answer ...?"
- Tactfully curb aggressive students (No student domination should prevail).
(Refer to questioning skills)

After the lesson
1. Answer questions
- check the answer for deferred questions

2. Evaluate progress
- mark assignment/quiz and consolidate the progress for each student

Reference:
http://www.utexas.edu/academic/cte/sourcebook/teaching2.pdf
http://www.utexas.edu/academic/cte/sourcebook/questioning.html