SEC | S19W4: Active and Fun Teaching Strategies

I came to know much about being serious with my studies in my secondary school, there were some classes I would attend and I would feel like the teacher should continue and there were some that I would be waiting for the bell to sound indicating a change of period and I will be happy when the next teacher comes in. I can't remember much about my very tender age or that age a bit above infancy when I was in nursery school, still nursed.

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I know it was never a boring one because we were always singing, never tired and what kept my brain active were those rhythmic sounds, children love music and some sort of visual display, and I could remember there was always one that could help with that, a television, were cartoons were the same played, the most popular of which trend in my days were Tom and Jerry, Popeye, the sound kept us active in class maybe that why I could remember much because I had no terrible experience.

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As I grew above this stage, the nursery, the primary and transcended to high school, I realised how boring classes were, and that if I had a chance I would leave, since I had no control over myself I stayed till the end, but in the end, I picked nothing, my interest died for that course not because I never wanted to use most of them in the future but the teaching approach made me dislike those courses. Agricultural science and business studies, Chemistry were always boring but Mathematics, Physics and Civic education were never.

Agricultural science to me was boring because the teacher's notes were always bulky, too bulky I mean and he wouldn't stop, I didn't even want to know if we were tired, he gave fewer assignments or no assignments, for some with tiny handwriting his note in a term would fill an 80 leave exercise book.

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Chemistry class was boring because the teacher kept on teaching without caring to know if we understood, and even when we asked the question she didn't explain the context to us, dwelling in the shadows and leaving us in the dark is what was often and was no retreat of that question in the next class, I began to spur up interest when we began to do the practical, even with this we needed more of the practical aspect that the theory because I multitude of the things we read about where still bustling in our heads and it won't get stuck if we don't see the practical aspect.

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My business studies teacher was always facing the board during calculation and till she was done calculating, In the University I was taught that this is a very wrong teaching posture, You can only face the board when you keep the students engaging that could be through coping of note unless that class will be divided, and yes in my days it was divided, a student will leave the class unnoticed because she was always facing the board often.

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Even though Physics and Mathematics are complicated courses there is this similarity they hold in the teacher's pattern of teaching, active calculation on every topic, interactive sessions, classwork, a little joke and the class keeps on.

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When teaching, what steps will you use to create an active and fun classroom atmosphere?

1. Make it interactive: Incorporate hands-on activities, group work, and collaborative projects.

2. Use gamification: Incorporate game-like elements, such as rewards, challenges, and competitions.

3. Incorporate multimedia: As I said earlier the kiddie's classes were never boring because videos, images, and music made learning engaging.

4. Celebrate milestones: Recognize and celebrate students' achievements by gifting them something.

5. Be approachable and flexible: Be open to feedback and reactions from students be willing to adjust plans, and show a sense of humour.

6. Use real-world examples: Connect lessons to everyday life experiences.

7. Encourage movement: A teacher should be able to discern when the students are tired and take a brain break or switch to stretching exercises and maybe a walk while teaching continues

8. Make it student-centred: Teaching is directed at the student and how they can get something out of the class, so empowering them is very crucial, allow your students to take ownership of their learning, and make choices during class activities.

What were the results after you implemented these steps, were the students actively involved and happy following your lesson?

Some students tend to have a clearer understanding of the concept, especially the ones that involve hands-on activities.

In your opinion, what are the weaknesses and strengths of the strategies you have used?

When I said the class my teacher were boring and some interesting, the characteristics that categorise these classes into two may not be the same for all students, that my interesting moment may have been boring for most students if the teacher's method of teaching never struck that uninteresting part.

I would love @uduak3587, @bessie2023 and @roselove to join this contest