5 Basic Lessons for Elementary School Teachers who Want Result

Teachers who handle elementary school children better understand the twist and turns involved in handling children at such tender age. There is always a thin  line between getting it right and messing up the whole thing when it comes to elementary school teaching. This is why elementary school teachers must always be abreast of success tips that would help them get the best out of the kids under them.

Here, Ms Seyi, a seasoned elementary school teacher, shares her experience and discovery on how best to go about it, if one must do well as an elementary school teacher.

1: It's all about the children.

It's not the big ticket lesson that counts; it's the the hundreds of
little things you do everyday. Things that give the children high
expectations that matters.


2: To change the children's behaviour, you need to change your behaviour.

If you want a stubborn child to change and adhere to rules and
regulations,you must first be humble and adhere to the authority above
you.Show the child the kind of change you want and not orally.


3: Children want recognition

Children do not only want your fifts, rewards or appraisal when they
behave well or score high academically. They also want you to send
positive note to their parents,so their parents can be proud of them.
Make an appraisal note board in your class where the name of every
child that behaves well is written for the whole class to see.


4: Feedback needs to be as fast as possible.
Give the child either written or spoken feedback to help the child
improve or excel higher.


5: Reading makes you a high flier.

As you read books, encourage the children to read also. Not just
textbooks or story books but also texts and quotes from online and
they should paste ut in their class as a reminder of their
achievements as readers..


Succeeding as an elementary school teacher is not a rocket science. All you need is to learn the basic lessons, apply them religiously and you and your pupils would be on top the world.



By Ms 'Seyi Abayomi

She is an expert tutor and trainer on elementary school basics. With an advanced professional training and experience, she is an expert in her field. You can reach her through her personal email: seyi.av13@gmail.com

Catch Them Young! 10 Proven Tips to Arouse Kids' Interest in Sciences

It is a well-known fact that science and technology roles the world today. So it is of utmost importance for science teachers to keep themselves abreast of the latest development in science and technology, as well as be acquainted with updates in this indispensable vast and dominating field in human existence. This is the reason why the slogan ‘Catch Them Young’ should be ingrained in every science teacher’s consciousness and be ready at all time to help inculcate in young minds from cradles, the basic concepts of science.

Here are 10 proven tips that can help every science teacher achieve this:

1.         Value your pupil’s/child’s questions.

“Sir/Dad, why is the moon following us?” With this question, a child lets us know he is thinking about how the world works. We can respond in ways that encourage his/her scientific thinking. Think of how you might respond. Do you think it’s adorable? (It is! But the question also shows what your child is thinking!) What can you do if you don’t know the answer? That is why it our responsibility as teachers and parents to update ourselves to develop our children’s minds.

2.         Explore and find the answers together (incase you don’t know the answer)

Responding with “What do you think?” or “ I don’t know but we can find out together,” can stimulate confidence in your child to ask more questions. Explore and find the answers together. (Don’t say I will tell you later). Use available resources in the class to give answer to questions asked by the children.

3.         Give children time and space to explore.

Children learn science through trial and error. They need time to experiment, try things out, and think on their own. Wait before jumping in with “correct” answers. Give your pupils/child the time and space to explore and discover on their/his own.

4.         Accept that explorations are often messy

Whether it’s outdoor exploration with mud and sticks or indoors with water, children are likely to get dirty when they explore materials. But be careful to keep acids or any dangerous item away from their reach if it in the laboratory.

5.         Learn from mistakes together

If an experiment goes wrong, take advantage and investigate with your pupils to see what went wrong. A mistake can lead to all kinds of possibilities and it provides opportunities for you and your pupils to refine your ideas, understanding, and hypotheses.

6.         Invite curiosity

Science learning begins with curiosity. Observations and questions can create a climate of discovery – key to scientific learning. Children can learn a lot about science even at bath time. Parents, let your child ask his/her own questions but you can also stimulate curiosity. For instance, when seeing a rubber duck float in the water, invite him/her to think by saying, “I wonder if the soap will also float?” see what questions he/she asks and what experiments he/she tries.

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7.         Support further exploration

Intentional adult interactions with children can extend their learning. When the moment is right – may be when he’s/she’s done exploring on his/her own, offer a suggestion to extend his/her exploration. Guide your pupils/child by asking questions like, “What might happen if we try this?” share something you find while exploring.

8.         Encourage children to record their observations.

Writing, drawing, or taking photographs are all ways to record observations – an important scientific skill. Such records allow children to keep track of what they saw, heard, questioned, or discovered. When you notice your child is interested in something (like the moon, leaves changing on the trees, or the growth of a plant) you can suggest ways for them to record what they have observed. “Do you want to draw that” or ”Do you want to take photos?” or “Do you want me to help you write down what you noticed”

9.         Make good use of your electronic devices.

Take pictures of a stunning butterfly, record frog sounds, use a website or app to learn more about a specific phenomenon or creature.

10.       Use items you have in the class/lab or at home to experiment and explore

You don’t need to spend money buying science supplies. Here are some science questions your pupils/child can consider using materials you might have in the lab/home.

Question1: How does water move up a plant’s stem?

Directions: Put a celery stalk or carnation stem in water that has some food colouring in it.

Science principle: Children can see how the coloured water travels up the stalk or stem and might notice how a specific part of the celery stalk (called the xylem) draws the water up from the roots just like a straw.

Question2: How does changing the angle of a block impact the speed of a ball?

What you need: Rubber ball, small toy cars, and long block or plank.

Directions: Experiment how fast or slow the ball or car travels down a plank as you adjust its angle. You can do this by changing the height of the plank and testing the speed of the ball

Science principle:  children can see that items will roll at different speeds depending on the angle of the block. Try different kinds of items – a tennis ball, a super ball, small toy cars for example, to explore whether the size, weight, or material impacts the rolling speed.

You can go on and on, but these few tips, if judiciously followed will arouse the interest to study sciences in your children/pupils.

By Mr Anthony Eyo

He is a trained and highly experienced science teacher with many years of both industrial and professional engagement. He is an authority in his field. You can reach him through his personal email: eyonito@gmail.com

8 Proven Ways to Grab Your Pupils’ Attention

One of the greatest challenges teachers face in their classroom work is that of grabbing the pupils' attention. This is because, except a child's attention is captured, every other effort made in teaching that child would be tantamount to wasting a precious time. Hence, great teachers think and take this area seriously.

The following are some of the proven ways to do it according to Ms Jacinta Chidozie, who is a professional in the field:

Move Around

One of the simplest ways to grab your pupils’ attention is to simply walk around the classroom. All the time, stand next to pupils if you see them reach for objects to cause distractions. Move to the back of the classroom. Pupils need to feel that there is no place for them to hide and slack off while you teach.

Loose the Structure

Too many pupils are accustomed to a specific classroom setup. The best students sit in the front. The shier ones sit in the back where they “hide”. Do away with these physical constraints! Have them all sit in a circle on the floor. Or arrange their desks in a circle. Shake them out of their accustomed structure, and they will pay attention. For they won’t know what comes next.

Eliminate Routines

And speaking of not knowing what comes next… Pupils may wander more easily when they know what to expect and what will happen next. They come in and sit down. You ask them if they did their homework. You tell them to open their books. But what if instead of beginning the class the way you usually do, you do something completely unexpected? What if you show them a video first? They’ll certainly be intrigued!

Make them More Active

Have them do what you would ordinarily do. Have a pupil write on the board, have another hand out worksheets, and yet another help a classmate with something they don’t understand.

Divide and Conquer

Pupils are forced to focus when they can’t hide within a larger group. Divide the class into pairs or small groups for some activities. Walk around and assist as needed.

Play with Your Voice

Change your tone of voice as often as you can. Whisper something, then SAY IT LOUD. (Ever see students jump out of their seats?) Use different accents if you can, I highly recommend it. Pupils get a real kick out of it, and it really makes them listen up.

Use Props

Grab a small, soft ball. Ask a question and toss the ball to a pupil. Prompt him/her to answer your question. Have them throw the ball back to you and choose your next target. Who will be next? They won’t know! Use balls, hats, toys, anything and everything that will make a drilling session more interesting and dynamic.

Surprise Them!

Have a box with the word “Box of Randomness” written on the side. Inside the box have pieces of paper with a variety of actions and things your class will have to do. At any given time during the class, whip out the box and have a student take out a piece of paper that will state something that he/she or the entire class will have to do. You may want to save this box for when you see someone not paying attention. Here are some ideas for your Box of Randomness:

“Pop quiz!” – the entire class has to take a graded pop quiz on a recent topic.

“Random dancing” – play a tune from your phone and have the entire class stand up and dance.

“Your turn to teach” – the student who takes this slip of paper has to stand up in front of the class and teach something/ask the others questions/lead a discussion.

You can have lots of fun with your Box of Randomness, and it’s a great “penalty” for not paying attention.

It may be a hard truth to swallow but when you see your pupils’ minds wandering, there’s something you are neglecting to do.

By Ms Jacinta Chidozie

She is a seasoned and professional educationist with a proficiency on teacher-pupils engagement. A highly celebrated queen in her chosen career with a quest for personal and professional development. You can contact her through her personal email: jacintachidozie@yahoo.com

10 qualities that contribute to a successful and happy teaching career

What makes a successful teacher? 

If you were to ask any observer you may hear things like, the teacher kept the students engaged via unique teaching strategies, and the classroom basically ran by itself. But, if you were to ask a student, you’d probably hear a different response along the lines of “they make learning fun” or “they never give up on me.”

To be honest, there are countless teaching strategies you can use to achieve success in the classroom, but no matter the teaching style, the most effective teachers have one thing in common—they know how to reach their students in a long-lasting, positive manner.

Here are 10 qualities that contribute to a successful and happy teaching career:

1. Successful teachers hold high expectations of their students.

The most effective teachers expect their students to succeed, they believe in them, and motivate them to keep trying until they reach their goals. As a result, they set the bar high and create an environment where students can push themselves beyond their comfort zone to reach their goals, but also have a safety net to catch them if they fail.

2. Successful teachers have a sense of humor.

If you ask a student who their favorite teacher is, they are more than likely to tell you about the teacher that makes them laugh. They aren’t afraid to be silly and can laugh at their own mistakes. Humor helps create that lasting impression.

3. Successful teachers are knowledgeable in their field.

The best teachers are masters in their subject area. They know their craft and never stop learning. They are curious, confident, and do not need a textbook to teach their students. They stay abreast of their subject and transfer their love of knowledge to their students.

4. Successful teachers use teaching strategies that cause them to think outside of the box.

Productive teachers think creatively and try and make classroom experiences exciting for students. They identify ways to leap outside of the educational norms and create experiences that are unexpected, unique, and ultimately more memorable.

5. Successful teachers take risks.

A popular saying is, “If there is no risk, there is no reward.” Successful teachers know that risk-taking is a part of being successful. Children learn by observing, and when they see you try new things (and watch how you handle success and failure) they too will know how to handle similar situations.

6. Successful teachers are consistent.

Successful teachers are consistent in ALL that they do. Do what you say you’re going to do and stick with it. This applies to enforcing class rules, a consistent grading system, and the expectations for all your students. Do not play favorites or make special exceptions.

7. Successful teachers communicate with parents and students.

Effective teachers know that communication is the key to students' success. They create an open path of communication between parents and students, and recognize that a united front between both groups lowers the chance that children will get left behind.

8. Successful teachers are up-to-date with the latest in technology.

Great teachers take the time to explore new tools and stay up-to-date with latest technology. They are not afraid of what technology holds for education in the future, and are willing to learn and incorporate the new trends into their classroom.

9. Successful teachers make learning fun.

This goes hand in hand with having a sense of humor, but making learning fun doesn’t mean you have to put on a comedy show. Find ways to mix up your lesson plans based upon your students’ interests. When they see you putting in effort to get to know them and mold your teachings around their lives, the more successful you will become.

10. Successful teachers can empathize with students.

The best teachers are patient with students, and understand when they are under stress or have problems with material. They do whatever is necessary to get their students back on track, and are able to recognize that everybody has bad days.

If you’re looking to take the next step in your teaching career, you can learn a lot from what successful teachers do differently. Although it can be quite intimidating to think of all of the things we must do in order to reach our students, it is possible to master these skills one day at a time.

What do you think makes a successful classroom teacher? Feel free to share the qualities.

By Ms Dora Namatebe

She is a professional and trained educationist, with many years of classroom experience. You can reach her through her email @ doranamatebe1@gmail.com