The most important thing a teacher can do in the classroom is to learn his or her students names. When a student walks into the classroom and the teacher recognizes the student and knows their name the student feels good about themselves. It sounds like a simple thing to do but it is harder than you would think.
First of all teachers usually have 5-6 classes. Let’s say for example there are 25 kids in a class. For a teacher that has 5 classes that is 125 names a teacher has to learn. Now a teacher is usually printing off papers, making copies or trying to get things set up for the next class. Sometimes they appear too busy to the student and don’t even acknowledge them. Students just want to know that the teacher cares about them.
When a teacher says hi to a student before class it makes them feel good. They know the teacher cares about them. It is amazing how teachers can forget their students names or do not remember their names. How do you think the student feels when the teachers points at them and says “you” answer that question. They are not going to feel very good.
A good teacher takes the time to find out what a student likes to do. They find out their interests. This shows the student that the teacher looks at them as a person. Not just a student in their classroom taking tests. When students realize the teacher cares about them they will do better in that class. Students will work hard for a teacher that works hard for them. Teaching and learning is a two way street and to be successful they need to meet each other halfway. Now it also goes the other way if a teacher does not work hard and does care about the student do you really think the student is going to want to work hard for that teacher?
The most important thing a teacher can do is learn a students name and address them by it. It shows they took the time to learn something and they care. The student is not just a number in their grade book. When this happens the classroom is going to flow so much better and it will be enjoyable for the teacher and the student.