Muslim Teacher Tips: A Positive Approach
Friday, November 20, 2009 Read more → Advice, muslim professions, teaching, top tips In the name of God, entirely Compassionate, especially Merciful | Peace be with you
In the name of God, compassionate & merciful بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ | Peace be with you السلام عليكم
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
I come from a family of teachers and I've tasted teachering, twice.The greatest trick I learnt is to never lose your cool; much more can be achieved with a dangerous look then rollicking at students with detentions and expulsions.
Fortunately I taught at a Muslim school where the curriculum was based on an Islamic ethos, although that didn't prevent misbehaviour. When I thought I couldn't hack the little brats anymore, my mother gave me a Behaviour Management pocketbook. It saved my teaching life.
I'm passing on a pocketful of tips and techniques for potential teachers to use when the classroom is more like the jungle.
Part One: A Positive Approach
To carry out the happy-go-muslim approach one needs an emphasis on the positive rather than the negative:
- Use a positive style when talking. Say: "Harun, remember to talk in the corridors. Thanks", INSTEAD OF: "Oi! Stop running!"
- Regularly praise students for good behaviour, use these phrases consistently, highlighting good conduct for others to see.
- Redirect children towards success rather than highlighting their mistakes publicly. Say: "Well done, always face the audience, your presentation was interesting and confident", INSTEAD OF: "Next time stutter less, find more relevant information and stop being scared of looking at others". That's an opening for student bullying.
Relationships are the key and enhanced by greeting students at the door, giving them responsibility, showing an interest in them as individuals and treating them with the same level of respect you believe you are due.
About effective teachers
- Effective teachers not only teach the formal curriculum but social and emotional skills also.
- Effective teachers do not 'deliver the lesson' like a newspaper, they interact with students to build on skills through dialogue.
- Effective teachers hold realistic beliefs and act upon them.
- Effective teachers manage their emotions well. Try not to exclaim 'Allahu akbar!" out loud when something goes wrong.
You are an individual, different in shape and personality to the next teacher. You should hold realistic beliefs that are common in all good teachers. Understand that you cannot control the behaviour of children. You should seek to influence children's behaviour.
Hold realistic beliefs
Follow the ABC to focusing your attention where you have most influence. Build relationships and use preventative strategies in behaviour followed by use of logical consequences.
A - Antecedents
B - Behaviour
C - Consequences
Manage your emotions to maintain a balance
When you are rational and calm, you are most effective. Your emotions significantly influence the classroom 'climate'. There's only harm in creating a tense classroom. Remember that positive emotions build safety and your emotional management is a model for children. This doesn't mean you become a neutral zombie. Passion and energy are essential, just don't over do them.
When you are rational and calm, you are most effective. Your emotions significantly influence the classroom 'climate'. There's only harm in creating a tense classroom. Remember that positive emotions build safety and your emotional management is a model for children. This doesn't mean you become a neutral zombie. Passion and energy are essential, just don't over do them.
Part 2 covers how I managed classroom behaviour inshaAllah. These skills are life skills, interchangeable for socialising and family life. They are all good Muslim practise and encouraged in Islamic teaching. Practice each one in your life and report back with any changes!
Final Note: Are you a teacher? What tips do you have?
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