Unit 5
You Are the Key
It's a maxim in basic studies
that classrooms should be as student centered as possible. As
a result, newcomers to this field sometimes wonder what their
role should be. The answer is that instructors are the MVPs of
the developmental classroom. It takes strong, positive leadership
to create an atmosphere in which students are empowered to take
charge of their learning experience.
Not everyone has the temperament
needed to teach students at the basic level. The following list
may be helpful in deciding whether this is the field for you.
Qualities of Effective
Developmental Instructors
Personal qualities:
- They approach new
teaching challenges with confidence.
- They are respected
and admired by students and colleagues.
- They are creative.
- They treat every
student with dignity and respect.
- They have an unusually
high degree of maturity and self control.
- They react thoughtfully,
not emotionally, to difficult situations.
Communication skills:
- They communicate
assertively.
- They communicate
positively.
- They do not need
to prove that they're right all the time.
- They listen without
interrupting to what students have to say.
Teaching philosophy:
- They are deeply
committed to student success.
- They strive to
help developmental students make the adjustment to college life.
- They vividly remember
times in their lives when they felt anxious or inadequate, and
they empathize with students who struggle with these feelings.
- They know how to
motivate reluctant students.
- They avoid micro-managing
classroom activities.
- They frequently
incorporate collaborative activities into their lesson plans.
Classroom management:
- They model effective
problem solving for their students.
- They avoid power
contests.
- They accept occasional
conflict as a normal part of the teaching experience.
- They do not feel
threatened by student outbursts or misbehavior.
- They know how to
solve problems without arguing, lashing out, or humiliating students.
- They have a zero-tolerance
policy about any student behavior aimed at hurting or embarrassing
class members.