Gone are the days when you could blame traffic and rains for being late to work. Work from home was a relatively new concept a year back. However, it has now become a part of our lives. Things have changed drastically, patterns have evolved, and work from home has strengthened its presence. A lot of organizations and institutions have adopted this and have even made it a permanent option. As online education becomes the preferred method of teaching and learning, there are certain things that teachers should keep in mind. Work from home is significantly different than working from school or other educational institutions. There are numerous things that teachers should take care of, like, staying away from distraction, focusing on creating a positive learning environment, student engagement, and likewise.
Exams, assignments, homework, new concepts, expectations! There are a hundred things that students worry and stress about. In the midst of all this, to ensure that they learn effectively, teachers must make the learning environment positive and creative. This is yet another important thing that teachers should keep in mind while working from home. Steve Irwin said that education is all about being excited about something. How can teachers ensure that the students are excited to attend the online classes? Here are six amazing work from home tips for teachers.
Classes have moved online and a lot of teachers think that it is hard to make the classes interactive when it comes to work from home. To capture the attention of students and keep them engaged, it is important to use innovative strategies and techniques in the online classroom. Let us look at five tips that teachers can use when they work from home.
6 Work From Home Tips for Teachers
What are the major things that teachers should take care of while working from home? They should create a positive environment, one that is characterized by active students who are pumped to achieve more and get better results. Here are some tips and things that teachers can try to make working from home easy and breezy.
1.Online Classroom Set up
The first thing that the teachers should take care of when it comes to work from home is setting up a corner to conduct the online classes. Choose a space that's away from distractions. Preferably one that is away from windows or doors. Ensure to keep all the things that you would require within your reach. This will help you stay focused for longer.
2.Communicate with Your Students
One of the things that might get affected when teachers work from home is the bond they have with their students. Teachers must know their students, their background, and their behavioral patterns. While this cannot be achieved in a day, teachers can outreach, talk to their parents, and likewise. Understanding the students on a deeper level will help teachers to analyze their learning styles and devise the teaching methods accordingly.
3.Incorporate Activities and Games
There is a common misconception that online teaching is not interactive enough. Teachers can include activities and games to curb this issue. For instance, you can play Star of the Day. This is an activity that teachers can try in the online classroom. Every day, teachers can select one or more students as the star of the day. This need not be based on academic achievements or performance. It can be for the efforts that a student puts in, a good deed that they have done or it can just be a token of encouragement. Such activities will help students to perform better.
4.Bragging Period
The bragging period is another activity that teachers can try to make their classes more engaging. Teachers can set aside some time for the students to brag about something that they are proud of. Teachers must guarantee that no success is small and encourage students to come up and talk about things that they are proud of.
Yet another activity that teachers can try is the dream journal. Ask your students to write about their smallest dream. Pick a student through a random method and help them take a step closer to the dream. This can be a biweekly or monthly activity. This way, the students will feel that they are valued members of the class.
5. Check List
It is important to create a check list and have a to do list ready if you are working from home. Having a check list will help you track yourself and prioritize the tasks. This will also0 give you a sense of achievement when you strike things off the list. When you work from home, it is easy to get distracted and lose track of time.
6. Create a Safe Space
The classroom, regardless of whether it is online or offline must be a safe space for students to voice their opinions and concerns. Mutual trust and respect play an important role in making the learning environment positive and active. To achieve this, teachers can conduct regular feedback sessions and activities. This will help to break the ice and bring in a rhythm.
Teaching is a complex profession. When there is a deviation from the usual pattern, it is important to alter the methods and strategies accordingly. As mentioned, working from home is nothing like working from school or office. While online teaching is effective and efficient, teachers need to adapt and upskill themselves accordingly. It is pivotal to understand that the essence of education is not just in conveying the concepts or covering the syllabus. It is much more than that. It is about connecting with the students and make them fall in love with learning. The teachers might have to try umpteen strategies before they find one that fits. The tips mentioned above are sure to help.
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