3. Never Be Boring

The cardinal sin of teachers is to be “Boring.” In a class where the teacher is boring, time drags on endlessly. Students become uninterested, and eventually discipline problems erupt. Think about the class you dreaded most when you were in school. Was it the one where the teacher suffered from a complete and total excitement deficiency? Did he talk in a monotone voice, completely void of animation and enthusiasm? Did he remain behind his desk emotionless and motionless. Chances are, you hated to go to class because it was unbelievably boring. Make a commitment to keep your students from the fate of boredom.

Do It... Place a large poster at the back of your room with N.B.B. in large bold letters to serve as a reminder to NEVER BE BORING! Put pizzazz in your lessons by putting life in your actions and your voice. Move up and down the rows in the classroom. Learn to do the two step (see the next section). Get away from your desk because it only serves as a barrier to effective communication. Learn to rekindle your own love for your subject matter to inspire your students to come alive with excitement. Enthusiasm is contagious, and you'll NEVER BE BORING!

4. Use the 6 W’s, H & I

Research indicates you can only maintain a student’s undivided attention for three seconds out of ten. What this means is you must get your students involved in the learning process by asking questions starting with the 6W’s, H, and I: Who, What, When, Where, Which, Why, How and If. Questions invite students to think first and then participate. Never lecture! That’s right! Never EVER lecture because lecture is a monolog, a one way conversation virtually with no one. Talking and telling are not teaching. To improve learning, create a dialog between you and your students by asking thought provoking questions. Remember that the person who does the work does the learning. Shift from doing the work to letting your students work. Student participation and involvement create lasting learning.

Do it...For your students’ sake and yours, never talk over two minutes without some form of class participation. Ask one of your students to serve as your official time keeper to remind you when two minutes is up. After two minutes or even less, interact with your students. Get them involved in the lesson by asking challenging questions. Breaking the habit of too much teacher talk can be achieved with a little practice and gentle reminders from your students. Involving students by asking questions that tantalize their thinking process serves to get them involved in the lesson and yields numerous benefits for both you and your students.