Tips on being a better teacher

There are many people, including teachers who struggle with being excellent educators. Mastering material and helping others learn is only a fraction of what teaching is about. For every profession, there's always room for improvement. Teaching is more complicated than anyone realizes. Nonetheless there's several tips on how to master the art of teaching:

* Always be patient - NEVER yell or show your frustration with your students. If you do, your students will feel discouraged and not want to learn the subject again. it will also reflect poorly on your reputation as others may not recommend you as a teacher. Realize that everyone has their own pace of learning. Some are slower at learning than others. Everyone has their internal and external obstacles they must overcome at their own speed. Impatience will only hinder progress.

* Learn how your students work - Humans are not robots. You can't simply give them information and expect them to understand with each passing lesson. Humans have their own unique methods of learning. Some learn better by observing with their sight and others with their ears. You must be wise in your methods of teaching as the subject matter you are teaching. By learning how your students receive information, you can figure out the most effective method of teaching them.

* Show no favoritism - Favoritism will cause rivalries and discouragement. When you enter the teaching world, forget about all of past friendships and family members. Pretend as if you know nothing about each person. Treat everyone with equality and respect. Build a special relationship with each one of your students. Recognize that each student has something valuable and essential to contribute to the world.

* Let your students make mistakes - Making mistakes is one of the best choices your students can make. Why? Because it allows them to see where they need to improve. Making mistakes lets students gain wisdom of the subject being studied.

* Give your students independence - Allow your students to face new challenges as you see them progress. Self trust and confidence are also essential to a student's growth. Reward your students when they succeed but also correct them when they fail. The aim is to discipline and encourage your students, not punish them.

* Don't be ambiguous - Avoid using one word instructions like "power!" This doesn't explain anything. Power for what? From where? Your students aren't going to understand you if you continue being vague. Be specific but keep things as simple as possible. If you make things complicated, you overwhelm your students. Use examples as needed and encourage your students to ask questions. Give advice and explain all of the mechanics of "why?" The goal is not to simply teach students to achieve average understanding, but to master what is being learned.  

* Practice teaching others - To become a better teacher, practice teaching what you've learned. Focus on effective communication, giving analogies, using examples, having patience, disciplining your students, and yourself.

Continually practice these guidelines and watch yourself improve as a teacher. In life, you never stop learning no matter how much of a master you are.

Breaking the cycle of abuse

When i was a kid, i used to abuse girls. There was a point in life when i looked up to my father - both the good and the bad. I thought physical violence was the solution because it was the norm. Once, i laughed with him after he made a degrading comment towards my mom. After that, i started to believe that was how women are to be treated. That's how i began physically and emotionally hurting girls. It wasn't just girls that i hurt, it was family and friends. I got in trouble with my mom, teachers, and others. Even as an adult, i repeated the same pattern. I've emotionally and verbally harmed women when things didn't go my way. I've threatened them and scared them with my behavior.

I've never had much of a good role model growing up until i found Jesus. Despite this, i fear becoming like my father. I'm afraid that because of my family abuse, i'll never be able to maintain a loving relationship. I suffered from low self-esteem, depression, and this fear. This is why i distanced myself from relationships in general. I blamed my problems on my parents.

Until i realized it wasn't their fault. I stopped seeing myself as a victim. I refused to be enslaved to the past. What i learned was that i didn't have to be like my father. I was in control of my life. I could make my own choices. I could break this cycle of abuse. Breaking the cycle of abuse starts when you see that your abusive actions are wrong rather than a way of getting love. My father tried scaring me into loving him and it never worked. I always thought it was wrong. When you stand up for what is right, you free yourself from becoming an abuser.